The Robot Book

Book excerpt: Drones, RC cars, artificial limbs, Roombas-the robots have arrived! Anyone interested in taking control before the machines do needs a helpful resource. Author and physics teacher Bobby Mercer will show readers 20 inexpensive, easy-to-build and robots that can be built with everyday items. The Robot Book will teach readers how to use recycled motors and computer components, junk drawer supplies, and old mechanical toys to build a variety of devices. They will learn how to turn a toothbrush, an old cell phone, and scrap wire into a Brush Bot, or hack a toy car to hotwire a Not-So-Remote Bot. A small electric fan, several craft sticks, and rubber bands make a Fan-Tastic Dancing Machine, and drinking straws, string, tape, and glue can be used to construct a working model of the human hand. Every hands-on project contains a materials list and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos. Mercer also includes explanations of the science and technology behind each robot, including concepts such as friction, weight and mass, center of gravity, kinetic and potential energy, electric circuitry, DC vs. AC current, and more. Teachers will appreciate the opportunity to augment their STEM curricula while having fun at the same time. These projects are also perfect for science fairs or design competitions. Bobby Mercer has been a high school physics teacher for over two decades. He is the author of The Flying Machine Book, The Racecar Book and Junk Drawer Physics and lives with his family outside of Asheville, North Carolina.