Building Bots: Designing and Building Warrior Robots

Book Description

This is the definitive guide to designing and building warrior robots like those seen on BattleBots, Robotica, and Robot Wars. It walks robot enthusiasts of all ages step-by-step through the design and building process, enabling them to create any number of customized warrior robots. With a strong emphasis on safety, chapters include designing a robot, choosing materials, radio control systems, electric motors, robot batteries, motor speed controllers, gasoline engines, and drive trains. Clear instructions are accompanied by photos, line drawings, and detailed diagrams throughout. A color section showcases a variety of glorious fighting machines. For beginners, there is machine shop 101 and robot physics, and, of course, chapters on weaponry that include spinner robots, thwackbots, cutting blade robots, lifters, and chameleon robots. When the bot of their dreams is built, suggestions on where to compete and game-day strategies and tactics help readers take the next step. An extensive resource section lists parts suppliers, pertinent Web sites, a radio frequency chart, and a glossary.

Customer Reviews:

Very Shallow Coverage........2006-12-08

This book has the feel of something that was dashed off in a few weeks to meet a publishing deadline. The photos poorly illustrate the text, and many of the photos are inexplicably re-used at multiple points in the book -- apparently just as 'filler'.

The text does cover some of the basic questions a robot builder might pose, but there certainly is not enough detail to enable someone to actually construct a sucessful combat robot.

There are many better books available on this subject. Search them out and add them to your library before you consider this purchase.

Great robot combat book for beginners.......2002-11-20

This book is a must read for those new to the sport and who are interested in R/C robot combat tournaments. It primarily focuses on the basics of robot construction, from locomotion to weapon systems to robot fighting styles. Basic robot physics, tactics and acquiring sponsorship are covered as well. It also presents the issues involved with putting on your own tournament. There are helpful tips from a large assortment of knowledgeable people including top builders, vendors, tournament organizers and more. If you are new to the sport, it is an indispensable source of helpful information. Many `newbie' mistakes can be avoided with the experience gained from the book. If you have already had lots of robot combat exposure you should recognize most of the material as fundamental, yet it can still be an interesting and informative read.

Building Bots: Designing and Building Warrior Robots

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Building Bots: Designing and Building Warrior Robots
William Gurstelle
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N63Z2G

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Building Bots: Designing and Building Warrior Robots
William Gurstelle
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VKSG64

Product Description

Written by William Gurstelle -- This book will help you build the bot of your dreams! -- Building Bots, Designing and Building Warrior Robots easily explains all the tricks to building a competitive machine. It offers step-by-step processes to make building your bot a piece of cake! -- To start your adventure, choose the fighting style that's right for you. Integrate the most destructive weaponry and learn the pros and cons of BMWs, thwack-bots, cutting blades, lifters, spinners, flippers, and chameleons. -- Discover the ins and outs of radio control systems. Learn to determine the right battery and motor for your robot's battle requirements. There are 10 tips included for building battle-worthy robots and winning game-day strategies! -- Building Bots includes additional information on how to organize your own fighting robot event, typical tournament rules, and descriptions of some of the wildest competitions across the country to inspire you to get your bot in the ring! -- This book contains 18 different chapters discussing everything from "Safety" to "How to Design a Robot" to "Rotating Kinetic Energy Weapons". A great find for the robot builder and enthusiast! -- Soft-cover, 238 pages.

Book Description

American cities' rapid expansion after the Civil War fueled the growth of organized transportation systems-- omnibuses, horsecar, and, later, electric streetcars. Trolley Wars traces the social dynamics of these first mass-transportation systems as they developed in Rhode Island, the most urbanized state in Gilded Age America. Covering years of rapid growth, Scott Molloy focuses on the laborers who operated the transit system, the changing ownership of the streetcar lines, and the strong bond that grew between trolley crews and passengers--a bond that sustained a powerful political alliance during the bitter "car wars" of 1902.

In lucid prose based on scrupulous research, Molloy dissects the car wars and expertly knits them into the larger pattern of labor unrest and urban malaise gripping turn-of-the-century America. Originally published in 1996, the classic Trolley Wars is now made available for the first time in paperback to readers, students, and scholars of labor history, with a new Author's Note.

Customer Reviews:

Busman's Holiday.......2001-12-03

Scott Molloy is Rhode Island's foremost labor historian. Now a history professor and the University of Rhode Island, Molloy worked his way through graduate school working as a bus driver for the state's bus company. It was there that he began researching and studying the history of Rhode Island public transportation and the people who worked there.

In preparing this work, Molloy interviewed retired street car workers, poured through yellowed newspapers and dug through boxes of records sitting in the dusty corners of the bus driver's union.

His efforts have paid off. Trolley Wars tells the story of the rise of public transportation from the experiences of the people who made it work -- the workers.

Average customer rating:
TROLLEY WARS: STREETCAR WORKERS ON THE LINE

Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institute Press USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I9XPHS

Book Description

Since its founding in 1964, the IMF Institute has provided macroeconomic management training to over 20,000 officials from almost all of the International Monetary Fund's 183 member countries—more than 13,000 at IMF headquarters in Washington, and about 8,000 overseas. This volume compiles some of the analysis that the Institute uses in its macroeconomic training to address key questions that policymakers face in managing their national economies. The chapters, by IMF staff and external economists, cover salient topics in monetary, fiscal, and exchange rate management and show that there are no definitive prescriptions for effective economic policymaking, but rather a range of options, and that any course of policy action has explicit pros and cons.

Customer Reviews:

Good book on macroeconomic stability.......2004-02-20

If you are interested in knowing how the I.M.F. thinks of the best way of managing the macro variables of the economy, this is your book. It is based on the classes tought to different countries officials and burocrats at the I.M.F. Institute. Thus, each chapter deals with each topic of the macroeconomics: current account sustainability, inflation-targeting regime, sustainable fiscal stance, long-term exchange rate determination and so on, i.e., the core of the Washington Consensus principles.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from NBER Reporter, published by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. on September 22, 1995. The length of the article is 3387 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The National Bureau of Economics Research Program in Monetary Economics was established in 1991 to encourage practical studies in macroeconomics. The program aims to improve the understanding of the link between central-bank activities and the economy. Program members convene once or twice a year to discuss their work.

Citation Details
Title: Monetary economics. (National Bureau of Economic Research Program in Monetary Economics)
Author: N. Gregory Mankiw
Publication: NBER Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 1995
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Page: p1(6)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The role of assessments and judgement in the use of the macroeconometric model RIMINI.(model developed by Norway's Norges Bank Research Department): An article from: Economic Bulletin

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The role of assessments and judgement in the use of the macroeconometric model RIMINI.(model developed by Norway's Norges Bank Research Department): An article from: Economic Bulletin
Kjetil Olsen , and Fredrik Wulfsberg
Manufacturer: Lloyds Bank Plc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Economic Bulletin, published by Lloyds Bank Plc. on August 1, 2001. The length of the article is 7424 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The role of assessments and judgement in the use of the macroeconometric model RIMINI.(model developed by Norway's Norges Bank Research Department)
Author: Kjetil Olsen
Publication: Economic Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 2001
Publisher: Lloyds Bank Plc.
Volume: 72 Issue: 2 Page: 55

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Financial aspects of macroeconomic management in Mexico (Joint research program series)

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Financial aspects of macroeconomic management in Mexico (Joint research program series)
Pascual García Alba Iduñate
Manufacturer: Institute of Developing Economies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Inflation | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007BKSN6

Average customer rating:

Only so-so

a decent collection, for beginners

Mel Bay presents Cripple Creek Dulcimer Book: An Instruction Manual and Song Collection
Bud Ford
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Guitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Mel Bay's You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer

Mel Bay Dulcimer Chord Book

Mel Bay First Lessons Dulcimer

Mel Bay A Dulcimer Christmas

The Best Dulcimer Method Yet (Dulcimer)

ASIN: 0871665069
Release Date: 1977-06-01

Product Description

This instruction manual and song collection is a well-crafted book of basic dulcimer technique and traditional songs that might have been popular in Cripple Creek, Colorado in the 19th Century-- plus a few modern day tunes by its current inhabitants. The techniques and songs have been transcribed from the performances of Bud and Donna Ford who have been collecting songs for their favorite instrument for some time. Bud and Donna explain the basics of playing the dulcimer, including instructions on strumming, tunings, and picking. Solos are offered in all of the various modes (Ionian, Dorian, Locrian, etc.) in standard notation only with lyrics and chord symbols. The end result is an attractive yet pragmatic book that offers a solid grounding in the art of dulcimer playing.

Customer Reviews:

Only so-so.......2006-06-20

I have so many other books that I like so much better than this one that I never pick this one up anymore. I haven't used even one of their songs in my repertoir. I think anything by Madeline MacNeil or Lois Hornbostel would be a better pick.

a decent collection, for beginners.......1998-07-22

a nice mix of all three tunings, one verse only of the songs, familiar songs. neat pictures of the 1890's Cripple Creek (Colorado), in which a couple of fires nearly destroyed the town.

CRIPPLE CREEK DULCIMER BOOK, THE, An Instruction Manual and Song Collection

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CRIPPLE CREEK DULCIMER BOOK, THE, An Instruction Manual and Song Collection
Bud, and Donna Ford Ford
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publ.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VBMJUM

Mel Bay Present The Cripple Creek Dulcimer Book : An Instruction Manual and Song Collection

Average customer rating:

Mel Bay Present The Cripple Creek Dulcimer Book : An Instruction Manual and Song Collection
Ford. Bud and Donna
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KD79PQ

Mel Bay The Cripple Creek Dulcimer Book: An Instruction Manual and Song Collection

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Mel Bay The Cripple Creek Dulcimer Book: An Instruction Manual and Song Collection
Bud and Donna FORD
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: B000FA3D7C

Product Description

An instruction manual and song collection

Customer Reviews:

Manson: The 10¢ Version.......2004-07-01

Hilarious, hysterical screed about "hippies", "Manson" and the decadent California subculture in the late sixties by a mysterious Canadian-Brit pulp author supposedly masquerading as a journalist. Wallowing in the kind of salacious, dime novel prose he so willingly condemns the press for using to create the Manson-as-icon, he takes on that annoyingly presumptuous "voice of the characters" style of journalism that hypnotizes mass market readers. Surprisingly, as a quickie-cash-in, the only factual errors he makes are very minor, but Manson scholars will find only silliness here and no one but pure collectors need consider it a necessary buy, unless you happen upon a 1970 1st edition of course.

Average customer rating:

SATAN'S SLAVES
James TAYLOR
Manufacturer: NEL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000J01HJY

Book Description

The sitcom made its first appearance in January of 1949 with the introduction of television's first family, The Goldbergs. Since the advent of the sitcom, televised fictional families have reflected the changing structure of American society. The sitcom emphasized first the lives of suburban, working class European immigrants and gradually expanded to encompass the multicultural urban phenomena of the 1960s. The roles of men and women in the fictional family have similarly been adjusted to depict women's movement into the workforce and the changing identity of the father. As censorship laws became less stringent, sitcom viewers also began to be exposed to the realities of changing family dynamics in America, watching as the traditional nuclear family diverged to include single-parent, two-father, and two-mother households. From the cultural upheaval of the mid-century to the "reality" craze of the new millennium, television's families have mimicked and even influenced the changing values of American society.

This broadcast history covers more than 100 television families, from the Goldbergs to the Osbournes, who have provided entertainment and inspiration for the American public since 1949. An introduction to the cultural trends and social developments of each decade is provided prior to a summary of the significant series of that decade. Each series entry includes a description of the family, the date of the show's first and last broadcast, the broadcasting network, the day and time aired, and the cast of characters.

Customer Reviews:

A Message From The Author.......2005-05-31

We all grew up in front of the television set and often wished we could trade in our own families and become members of The Cleavers, The Andersons, the Bradys and even, in some cases, The Munsters. Now that we're rational adults, the notion of having a Frankenstein father may not seem as appealing as it once did, but the memories live on.
The American Family on Television is more than just a reference book. It's a walk down memory lane, with fun facts and interesting stories about your favorite television families. There's even a section dealing with a large group of TV families that didn't make the grade. Remember The Charmings or The Pruitts of Southhampton?
If you're a fan of TV Land or of TV in general, I know you will enjoy my book.

Book Description

Includes an introduction to C++ as used in Microsoft's new .NET platform, including Managed Extensions, and the new Visual C++ .NET compiler.
Updated for the new ISO C++ Standard.
The valuable CD-ROM includes new Windows XP-compatible compilers, source code and examples, and assessment software to help readers guage their progress.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely NOT in a weekend.......2006-06-28

Having read with pleasure the 'Visual Basic 6 Weekend Crash Course' by the same author, as a beginner to C++ I thought that this would be a good choice. Two weeks down the line, I'm only half-way through the book. As noted by others, the problems started with the chapter on Pointers. This is a new concept to me, and although I understood the first chapter on Pointers, I found it somewhat difficult to grasp the following one ('A few more pointers').

I used VB 6 for a couple of years and got used to the 'What you see is what you get' concept. However, with C++, often what you see is not at all what you get. So when you're like me, seeking to understand exactly how things work, then the explanations and examples in the book feel a little minimal. Add to that a cryptic programming language and you may have nothing to fall back on. I found myself presuming a lot. The problem is that if you don't understand a topic, chances are that you won't understand a lot of other stuff either.

Overall, I like the book because I use it to get to know the basic concepts of C++ and programming in general. I don't type the code examples, I don't even run them from the CD. I just read through them and with the help of the written explanations try to understand what is happening. Sometimes this takes long, but I feel that I'm building a sound basis in relatively little time. The chapters are compact, each not more than a couple of pages, and this helps you to progress steadily. But definitely not in a weekend! That is just a marketing ploy, and it's working well.

Dissapointing..........2004-08-05

This book was my first book on learning C++. After reading several other books on C++, I can honestly say that this book was dissapointing at best. In a beginner's eyes, it is easy to imagine how this book might seem handy. It is informative and helpful on elementary topics, and also was helpful in the respect that I had no idea where to get a compiler or how to use it. However, once the book delves into more advanced topics, it becomes apparent that
1.) the author never bothered to debug and test his programs and
2.) that the author is inadequate at explanations.
If you have plenty of money to burn, buy this book. Otherwise, try to get a book that doesn't have some sort of false "in a weekend!" or "in 21 days" or "for idiots!" promise. Learning to program takes hard work and perseverance, and those kind of books simply aren't cut out for teaching programming (not in the timeframe they promise, at least.).

Perfect for the C programmer moving to C++.......2003-12-08

As a C (and other languages) programmer, I have spent hours in the bookstore reading 20 or more books on C++ trying to find one that would give me the C++ concepts quickly and simply - and this book does. I am quite certain that it will not be my last book on C++, it is NOY a complete referece by any means. I would also add that it is definitely NOT for someone with no programming experience (even though the copy says it is). While this book is not really what it purports to be, it is perfect for the C programmer moving to C++.

Relatively useless..........2003-02-10

This book is relatively useless unless you intend to write the programs he has made into examples in the book. Nothing is explained or defined, many explanations are missing as far as terms, ideas, or even how or what something does. I would not recommend this book.

Search somewhere else.......2002-08-18

Being an intermediate-level programmer I was able to breeze through the first few chapters with ease. The text explains fundamentals fairly well and it gives plenty of examples.
Progressing further into the book, past the fundamentals was quite a challenge. The chapter on pointers is poorly described, seemed rushed, with examples that are inadequately explained.
This book is OK as a reference if you already know what you are doing. Otherwise for a good intro book to C++ I would suggest C++ How to Program by Deitel and Deitel.

Average customer rating:

basic material for console apps
No Windows forms?
Not Recommended

C# Weekend Crash Course (With CD-ROM)
Stephen Randy Davis
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764547895

Book Description

Learn Microsoft's hot, new C# language fast! With C# Weekend Crash Course, you can get up to speed on designing and developing .NET applications with this powerful programming language -- in a single weekend!

Open the book on Friday evening and by Sunday afternoon -- after completing 30 fast, focused lessons -- you will have mastered the skills necessary to begin creating applications with Microsoft's hot, new C# language. In just one weekend, expert developer Stephen Davis leads you into the new world of Microsoft.NET, and enables them to create robust .NET applications. Starting with C# basics, Stephen teaches you what you need to know to begin creating C# applications quickly, and easily. This book is a must have for any developer building applications on Microsoft's new .NET Framework.

Customer Reviews:

basic material for console apps.......2006-06-30

If all you need is to learn C# *syntax* in a hurry this is a good book. That's all the book deals with, and therefore, it only has console (DOS-based) programs.

The syntax it goes over is the basic stuff: data types, while/for loops, if statements, arrays. And creating classes, base classes, methods, and it introduces how C# implements inheritance and polymorphism.

It does not teach anything out of the .NET Framework classes for Windows (forms, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, etc.). It is purely C# base code syntax.

Starting at around Session 13, the book's editor started running out of gas. There was the occasional syntax error, grammar error, poorly worded explanation, or mis-matched examples.

The examples are mediocre. The tone of the book simply presents a working program and picks it apart. It doesn't invite the reader to build the program him/herself, but to simply copy it out of the book or load it from the CD. The "Quiz" section at the end of each lesson usually asks really dumb questions like, "What is the most common of all looping constructs (see 'the for loop')?" There are rarely any exercises to actually write any programs that apply what was to be learned.

No Windows forms?.......2004-03-09

Stephen Davis, C# Weekend Crash Course (Hungry Minds Press, 2002)

A while back on one of the mailing lists to which I am subscribed, a chap popped up asking about books that cover programming console applications (you know, those things that when you run them, pop up in a command line box instead of running within Windows) in depth. My first reaction was "who on earth would want such a thing?" I still don't really know the answer to that, but if he's reading this, I recommend this book highly to him. Davis' whole book is devoted to console apps and DLLs.

And therein lies its major fault. In a programming world where, let's face it, the GUI has won the day (be it Windows, Xwindows, BeOS, Apple, what have you), a book that doesn't even mention the existence of programming graphical forms is painfully outdated, no matter how recently it was released. (The other C# book I'm reading right now was published the year previously, before Microsoft had even finished the C# visual form designer, and still manages to devote a chapter to Windows forms in C#!) The omission is unforgivable in a book on program design in the twenty-first century, even more so when the books covers Microsoft's .NET technology.

As for the program design itself, there's a decent amount to be learned here if you're trying to pick up C# after knowing another programming language. (As a longtime C++ programmer, I have no idea how total newbies will react; proceed at your own risk.) A few of the sections try to cram far too much into one thirty-minute session, especially towards the end (the Collections session is almost unreadable without a concordance of some sort; thankfully, I happened to be at the same portion of A Programmer's Guide to C# at the time, and it helped me figure things out without too much pain).

Probably worthwhile as an adjunct, but I can't see it being a primary reference guide for any serious programmer. ** ½

Not Recommended.......2002-03-14

A one star rating is an overstatement of the value of this book. I believe the 15 hours is the time the author spent learning the language.

It is not of value to beginning or experienced programmers. It does not serve well as either a review or an introduction. The examples are poorly chosen, (banking account), poorly explained. The other examples are lacking in clarity.

Even when something that one knows well from other languages, such as the difference between ++i and i++ is mentioned - it is a mention without an example in a loop or a clear explanation.

Book Description

Perl Weekend Crash Course covers the fundamentals of Perl programming including the basic grammar of Perl, syntax, and data manipulation and transformation. In addition, you'll find coverage of perl modules, functions, regular expressions, CGI programming and programming the SQL database interface via the DBI perl module. Perl Weekend Crash Course shows you how to embed Perl within an Apache server and it includes a CD-ROM that provides you with all the code and auxiliary files, pre- and post-assessment software to evaluate the user's progress, and other value-added software.

Customer Reviews:

Too many typos in the code.......2003-01-03

This book is unix based, so not many newbie programmers are going to stick to the weekend timetable.
For the experienced unix/C programmer this book is fine because they'll spot the errors.
For someone using windows on a pc with little programming experience it will get difficult or even impossible when they hit the first typos in the code examples on friday night. The sections on downloading modules and cgi programming will be a complete non-starter, and thats about half the book.
Joe Merlino obviously knows his stuff but the typos are mostly the result of block copying code and then forgetting to make changes - and of course not testing it.
So - there are a lot of good books on Perl out there, and a lot of good articles on the web. This is not one of them

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