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Robotics Home - Engineering Book - Mechanical Engineering - Robotics: 
Dave Baum's Definitive Guide to LEGO Mindstorms (Technology In Action)by Dave Baum, Rodd Zurcher (Illustrator) Paperback: 400 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.92 x 9.26 x 7.40 Publisher: APress; ; Book and CD-ROM edition (2000) ISBN: 1893115097 Check price @ amazon.com , amazon.ca , amazon.co.uk Amazon.com: LEGO blocks, originally mere children's toys, have everything to do with expressing creativity within a structured system. There are rules about how pieces fit together, but almost anything can be created within those restrictions. Building with LEGO blocks is a lot like writing software (a similarity Douglas Coupland emphasizes in Microserfs). Small wonder, then, that LEGO Mindstorms have been such a huge hit. In Dave Baum's Definitive Guide to LEGO Mindstorms, the reader gets an introduction to what Mindstorms robots can do, particularly in terms of sensing their environment and reacting to it. Baum invented Not Quite C (NQC), a language that's closer to standard C than LEGO's standard RCX Code programming language. He uses both NQC and RCX code in this book to show how to build and program a series of increasingly capable Mindstorms robots. He starts with Tankbot, a single-minded critter that navigates its programmed route without regard for obstacles. Later chapters detail Bugbot (which uses insect-like feelers to sense obstacles and employs code to navigate around them), Linebot (which follows a dark line using optical sensors), and Scanbot (which heads toward the brightest light its swiveling head can find). A very cool Vending Machine robot dispenses small candies in response to infrared signals or a pattern of bumps on a card. Several other equally nifty robots (there are 14 in total) get the same attention, which includes information on their mechanical construction and their operating software. Rather than rely on photographs, Baum uses computer-generated drawings of the various mechanical components. These show how the parts fit together with as much clarity as you can expect from a two-dimensional model, though exploded views might make certain assemblies even easier to understand. Dave Baum's Definitive Guide to LEGO Mindstorms will prime your creative thought processes as you begin to design your own Mindstorms robots. It's a great introduction to Mindstorms for kids and grownups alike. --David Wall Topics covered: Building and programming LEGO Mindstorms robots, including the functions of the various mechanical pieces, the operation of motors, and the capabilities of sensors. On the logical side, there are introductions to both LEGO's RCX Code language and Baum's own Not Quite C (NQC). The rest takes the form of a Mindstorms laboratory, in which Baum guides the reader through the creation of increasingly "smart" robots. Baum's code works with Mindstorms 1.0 and 1.5. Book Info: Provides a complete course in Lego robotics with numerous hands-on examples, high-quality graphics and step-by-step instructions. Softcover. CD-ROM included. From the Publisher: Definitive Guide to LEGO MINDSTORMS was originally written for the RIS 1.0 and 1.5 sets. Lego has recently released RIS 2.0, and although the Definitive Guide has not been updated, it remains an effective way to get more out of your MINDSTORMS set. About the Author: Dave Baum is a Principal Staff Engineer at Motorola. Baum has been building with LEGO since 1973 and writing software since 1983. After LEGO released the MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System, Baum developed Not Quite C (NQC), a powerful language for programming MINDSTORMS robots that has been widely accepted by advanced users. For more information about NQC or to download the program, visit the author's Web site. Customer Reviews A must have for MindStormers, February 4, 2002 Reviewer: Francisco J. Perea from Cerro Muriano, Cordoba Spain Very complete book. From Lego Math to multitasking programming. Plenty of examples an very well explained. Worthful for newbies and intermediate builders. It well worth the money A must have for MindStormers, February 4, 2002 Reviewer: Francisco J. Perea from Cerro Muriano, Cordoba Spain Simply excellent. From Lego Maths to complex and multitasking programming. A lot to learn for newbies and intermediate builders. Wonderful approach for teachers!, August 22, 2001 Reviewer: Elizabeth Solka from Fredericksburg, Va. United States I used this book to teach a beginning robotics class this summer to Middle School students. It is a great book for introducing concepts of building as well as programming the Lego Mindstorm "brick" with either the language that Lego developed (Rcxcc) or NQC(a modified C language). The children were able to grasp the ideas of programming quickly because they could change qualities of the program and see the change immediately effect the behavior of the robot they had built. David Baum's book is also very logical because he begins by telling you how to build and program the the basic "Tankbot". After that, the projects are the result of changes made to Tankbot so the child is not starting from scratch each time. Each new project introduces new concepts of programming that are discussed in the book. Therefore, it is a gradual growth of experience and knowledge that is not too overwhelming to the child. (Or the adult helping.) The disk which comes with the book contains the NQC compiler and is also full of program examples so that you can simply download the programs if you wish. The class was a hugh success because of this book. Next summer we will be offering two classes in robotics (beginning and advanced). This book is more than you might expect, August 2, 2001 Reviewer: Jef Raskin from Pacifica, CA USA When I opened Baum's "Definitive Guide", I expected a description of how to build and program a few simple projects. The book did that, and did it well, but what I did not expect was the depth of insight into mechanical engineering and computer science principles that it provides. For example, Baum gives a careful and clear explanation of how a mechanism works (such as a worm gear or differential, to name but two), and then presents experiments that you can build with Lego. These experiments will give you an invaluable feel for the principles involved. And I mean "feel" literally; after you build and try them, you will understand how these machines work on a gut level that's unforgettable. It's a lot of fun to build and operate even the simplest of Dave Baum's models. On the programming side, his NQC language is a nice stepping stone to the syntax of today's most widely-used programming languages (C and C++). But, as with the mechanical side, Baum -- without getting preachy or teachy about it -- introduces computer science concepts that will help make a youngster (of any age) a better and wiser programmer. Because you do them instead of just read about them, this is the kind of learning that tends to stick with you. NQC, which comes free with the book (and is free on the Web), is a better way to work with the Lego RCX unit. My kids, from 9 years old and up, prefer it to the tedious and somewhat weak Lego-provided method. As a tutorial to the language alone, the book would be a five-star recommendation. But Baum's work is a lot more than that, and a lot more than the shallow building guide to a few toys I originally expected. Buy it, build it, and program it: This book succeeds at being both toy and tutorial, a rare achievement. If you buy Mindstorms, buy this book!, April 11, 2001 Reviewer: Gene Davis from Hillsborough, CA United States Out of the box, Lego doesn't teach you how to get the most out of your investment. This book does. I found many great insights from this book and have used them quite extensively with my robot building. Dealing with the real world of sensors and motorized outputs is harder than you think, and this book helps teach you practical ways of dealing with these challenges. Not Really My Thing, March 13, 2001 Reviewer: A reader from Canada I bought this book and didn't find it very helpful for my purposes. There are about 14 robots to build, but they are not very complex in what they do. In all fairness I'm 28 years old so it could appeal to younger kids. Baum's Definitive Guide to LEGO Mindstorms ... A MUST HAVE!, February 24, 2001 Reviewer: Glenn R. Kelly from Trevor, Wisconsin USA If your the kid that never grew up, have a bent for engineering, and want to take your Lego Mindstorms RIS beyond the limitations of Lego's RIS 1.5 graphical programming interface; this books is a must. Dave leads you through good construction tips and programming of several robot projects using both the RIS programming environment and his own NQC (Not Quite C) compiler. When RIS can't handle the job because of the complexity of the programming, NQC programs take over and it rocks! Idiot to Pro, February 6, 2001 Reviewer: darooman from Washington State To be completely frank... this book is a god send. I love Legos and I love robotics. My only problem was that I had no experience with Mindstorms so I couldn't really build much. I didn't really know what process to go through when trying to invent, build, and program a robot. The various example robots and programs in the book gave me great practice on the whole creative process. NQC (a new RCX programing language) comes with the book on a CD. That too was a god send. The programing software that Lego provides is quite limited. Now that the book has given me and taught me NQC I can build much more interesting and complex robots. This book really helps you get your money's worth out of Lego Mindstorms! I've already ordered his second book! BUY THIS BOOK!!! You won't regret it! One Word.... Wow., July 10, 2000 Reviewer: A reader from The Pile, Milwaukee, Wi, USA, The Milky Way, Third spinney thing from the left, on the right side. In My Opinion, this book is the Bible to people that use the lego mindstorms systems. I am a junior in high school, and this book gave me the ideas to go and put together an award winning robot for our school systems science fair. In fact, it gave me the key to a full scholarship at the local engineering school, since I am the first and only person to ever make a robot for the fair in their 20+ year history, AND the fact that I attracted people to my booth, judges and all with my playing the Matrix { THE BEST MOVIE } on my internal dvd. It so impressed the judges, I was even offered a job, but the guy didnt realize I am only 17 ( and got 2 already :-( ). Without the wonderful language Mr. Baum provided and the book to add to it, I would be a loser for real. All thanx are owed to him and to the invento of the lego system, whoever and wherever you are. Lego has been an addicting force in my life for years, I have my brothers sets from the 80's when he was a kid and Just add to the "Pile" (or so my moms calls it) of legos whenever something new and kewl comes out. Since my introduction to mindstorms, I have purchased 2 kits, and all the add-ons, All thanx to Mr. Baum Thank you for reading on this far, although I bet ya just are scrolling past this juvenile hack of a coment as fast as you can.. I dont care This is a great book!, April 28, 2000 Reviewer: A reader from Canada All I can say it "Wow!". A Must-Read for any Lego Mindstorms User who wants to unlock the real power of their Lego Mindstorms System. After reading through the in-depth NQC section, I went from not knowing a thing about what to type in to program to being able to program quite well (If I do say so myself). |
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