Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

by Stan Gibilisco

Overview

This is a 400-page, illustrated encyclopaedia, intended mainly for amateur robotics fans, electronics hobbyists and students, covering the subjects of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The definitions are short, yet informative. There are approximately 150 illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071410106
Publisher:	T A B Books
Publication date:	11/12/2002
Series:	Tab Electronics Robotics
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.01(w) x 8.99(h) x 0.96(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction Acknowledgments Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics and AI Suggested Additional Reference Index

Editorial Reviews

Written by S. L. Tanimoto, University of Washington

Robotics contains elements of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. One of the challenges in reading a robotics text or entering the field as a hobbyist is the variety of concepts and terminology one must know. This book, a "how things work" for the robotics field, provides about 400 brief articles explaining concepts from "acoustic proximity sensor" to "zooming." Some entries are very short; "Guidance System," for example, requires only two sentences and refers to other articles. A longer article like "Logic Gate" is a page and a half long, including a diagram and table. Most topics are technical, but some are philosophical, such as "Jungian World Theory."

This well-written book is not an introduction to robotics--there is no "history" article, and no article titled "Robot" or "Robotics"--but it is likely to be a useful reference for students and hobbyists. Summing Up: Recommended.

From the Publisher

The Barnes & Noble Review
The world of robotics and artificial intelligence is fun and fascinating. It also can be frustrating if you are not familiar with the terms and concepts found in the wealth of material available on the subject. This indispensable reference will provide you with a comfortable grasp of the terminology so you can work and play successfully in the robotics arena!

Although the book could have included more math and jargon, it does contain a wealth of information, beginning with the term Acoustic Proximity Sensor and moving right along through Bongard Problem, Control Training, and Groundskeeping Robot. It explains Macroknowledge, Neural Network, and goes on to Pressure Sensing, Reactive Paradigm, Wheel Drive Locomotion, and Zooming. This book leaves no question unanswered, and no reader untutored.

Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics is a marvelous compendium of information relevant to robotics and AI for hobbyists, students, and people who are just curious about these technologies. The book delivers terms and concepts in alphabetical order, so that whatever term you need to know, it is available to you almost instantly, and covered in enough detail to facilitate any other reading you might be doing on the subject. John Vacca

John Vacca, the former computer security official (CSO) for NASA's space station program (Freedom), has written 38 books about advanced storage, computer security, and aerospace technology.