Product Description
Niku offers comprehensive, yet concise coverage of robotics that will appeal to engineers. Robotic applications are drawn from a wide variety of fields. Emphasis is placed on design along with analysis and modeling. Kinematics and dynamics are covered extensively in an accessible style. Vision systems are discussed in detail, which is a cutting-edge area in robotics. Engineers will also find a running design project that reinforces the concepts by having them apply what they’ve learned. ... Read more

Product Description

The International Symposium on Experimental Robotics (ISER) is a series of bi-annual meetings which are organized in a rotating fashion around North America, Europe and Asia/Oceania. The goal of ISER is to provide a forum for research in robotics that focuses on the novelty of theoretical contributions validated by experimental results. This unique reference presents the latest advances in robotics, with ideas that are conceived conceptually and have been explored experimentally.

Customer Reviews (1)

increasing capabilities
These are the papers delivered at a robotics conference in 2006. You might wonder why the book just came out in 2008. But there are inevitable delays in the physical publishing of any book. Plus I imagine that the papers here were perhaps peer reviewed before acceptance by the editors.

The chapters are grouped into topics like manipulation, vision, navigation, field work and others. All of these fields have a lot of effort and the papers in them delineate progress made in recent years.

For navigation, one characteristics is the common use of GPS for robust location estimation. Various field robots are reported on, that are impressively "intelligent" in performing some set tasks. Someone in this field will note the high amount of autonomy, as compared to earlier efforts. No doubt that in turn, this will soon be surpassed.

A professional reader might also want to look at Springer Handbook of Robotics. This also came out in 2008, and one of its editors (Khatib) is also one of the editors of the current book. ... Read more

Product Description

Solid requirements engineering has become increasingly essential to improved on-time and on-budget delivery of software and systems projects. As more engineering programs make it a mandatory part of their curricula, students and working engineers require significant training to master the field, especially the complicated emerging ancillary software tools vital to the requirements engineering process.

Apply Learning to Better Understand Applications

With an intentional focus on software-intensive systems, Requirements Engineering for Software and Systems provides a probing and comprehensive review of the state of technology and developments in intelligent systems, soft computing techniques, and their diverse applications in manufacturing.

Topics covered can be applied to the requirements engineering practices for—

• Advanced production machines and systems
• Collaborative and responsive manufacturing systems
• Digital manufacturing
• E-manufacturing
• E-business and virtual enterprises
• Fit manufacturing
• Human machine interfaces
• Innovative design technologies
• Intelligent and competitive manufacturing
• Intelligent planning and scheduling systems
• Mechatronics and MEMS
• Micro and nano manufacturing
• Production automation and control
• Reconfigurable manufacturing systems
• Robotics
• Sustainable manufacturing systems

Real-World Examples Inform and Clarify Theory
To illustrate key ideas associated with requirements engineering, the text presents three common example systems: an airline baggage handling system, a point-of-sale system for one location of a large pet store chain, and a system for a "smart home" in which one or more PCs control various aspects of the home’s functions. The selected systems encompass a wide range of applications—from embedded to organic, for both industrial and consumer uses.

Customer Reviews (1)

An essential reference for any software engineer
Anyone can write software, but it takes an engineer to make it robust and well designed... this book teaches just that!

It starts off with a thorough introduction to Requirements Engineering. It walks you through the process of communicating with the customer, eliciting, analyzing, validating, modeling, and managing requirements. There is even an entire chapter on writing the requirements documents. The appendix includes a sample requirements specification.

If you are serious about learning this, like I was, I would definitely recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Several consistent solutions for cooperative system control have recently been identified by the authors of the current monograph. This was achieved by solving three separate tasks that are essential for solving the problem of cooperative manipulation as a whole. The first task is related to the understanding of the physical nature of cooperative manipulation and finding a way for a sufficiently exact characterization of cooperative system statics, kinematics and dynamics. After successfully completing this task, in the frame of the second task, the problem of coordinated motion of the cooperative system is solved. Finally, as a solution to the third task, the control laws of cooperative manipulation are synthesized.

The starting point in dealing with the above three tasks of cooperative manipulation was the assumption that the problem of force uncertainty in cooperative manipulation can be resolved by introducing elastic properties into the cooperative system, at least in the part where force uncertainty appears. In static and dynamic analysis of the elastic structure of cooperative systems the finite element method is applied. In contrast to the procedure used in the major part of the available literature where deformation work is expressed by deviations from the unloaded state of fixed elastic structure, in this monograph the deformation work is expressed by internal forces as a function of the absolute coordinates of contacts of mobile elastic structure. Coordinated motion and control in cooperative manipulation are solved as the problem of coordinated motion and control of a mobile elastic structure, taking into account the specific features of cooperative manipulation. Coordinated motion and control laws in cooperative manipulation are synthesized on the basis of a non-linear model where the problem of uncertainty is solved, which is not the case in the available literature. Simple examples demonstrate the consistent procedure of  mathematical modeling and synthesis of nominal coordinated motion, as well as control of the cooperative system.

This book will be useful to a wide audience of engineers, ranging from undergraduate and graduate students, new and advanced academic researchers, to practitioners (mechanical and electrical engineers, computer and system scientists). It is intended for readers whose work involves manufacturing, industrial, robotics, automation, computer and control engineering, and who wish to find out about this important new technology and its potential advantages for control engineering applications.

Product Description
This unusual book addresses a number of common control problems from an experimental engineering perspective, using low-cost, laboratory systems. In each case a laboratory set-up and experiments are described, along with theoretical context and results from implementation. It therefore complements conventional theoretical books and textbooks. It is highly international, emanating from a European Tempus project (IMPACT). In addition to its value to teachers of control, as well as students, it will be of interest to practising control engineers seeking new insight to their own practical problems.

Also available:

Flight Control Systems: practical issues in design and implementations - ISBN 0852967667
Genetic Algorithms in Engineering Systems - ISBN 0852969023

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET publishes more than 100 new titles every year; a rich mix of books, journals and magazines with a back catalogue of more than 350 books in 18 different subject areas including:

-Power & Energy
-Renewable Energy
-Radar, Sonar & Navigation
-Electromagnetics
-Electrical Measurement
-History of Technology
-Technology Management
... Read more

Product Description

* Provides an elegant introduction to the geometric concepts that are important to applications in robotics

* Includes significant state-of-the art material that reflects important advances, connecting robotics back to mathematical fundamentals in group theory and geometry

* An invaluable reference that serves a wide audience of grad students and researchers in mechanical engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics

Product Description
Industrial Robotics encompasses the entire spectrum of the state of the art. It provides a unique, interdisciplinary treatment of robotics-showing the contributions of the various fields of mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering, and computer science, to robotics. The authors bring it all together from design to use. And there is no shirking from peripheral activities such as CAD-CAM and artificial intelligence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Industrial Robotics Users Guide [1986]
This is a core-text of industrial engineering undergraduate studies- a well referenced, attractively presented, comprehensive users guide [pre-1990] to robotics for industrial applications. Beyond that, is thedemonstration of the engineering approach to systems development in complexenvironments (e.g. business) that has a far wider application.

Topicsaddressed include: the fundamentals, robot technology (control systems andcomponents, robot motion analysis and control, robot end-effectors, sensorsin robotics, and machine vision), robot programming and languages(including an introduction to AI), applications engineering formanufacturing (robot cell design and control, and economic analysis forrobotics), robot applications in manufacturing (material transfer andmachine loading/unloading, processing operations, assembly and inspection),implementation principles and issues (including safety, training,maintenance and quality), and social issues and the future of robotics.

Isuspect that a more recent revised version (if available), would be asimilarly useful treatment of the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Accessible to all readers, including students of secondary school and amateur technology enthusiasts, Robotics, Mechatronics, and Artificial Intelligence simplifies the process of finding basic circuits to perform simple tasks, such as how to control a DC or step motor, and provides instruction on creating moving robotic parts, such as an "eye" or an "ear." Though many companies offer kits for project construction, most experimenters want to design and build their own robots and other creatures specific to their needs and goals. With this new book by Newton Braga, hobbyists and experimenters around the world will be able to decide what skills they want to feature in a project and then choose the right "building blocks" to create the ideal results.

In the past few years the technology of robotics, mechatronics, and artificial intelligence has exploded, leaving many people with the desire but not the means to build their own projects. The author's fascination with and expertise in the exciting field of robotics is demonstrated by the range of simple to complex project blocks he provides, which are designed to benefit both novice and experienced robotics enthusiasts. The common components and technology featured in the project blocks are especially beneficial to readers who need practical solutions that can be implemented easily by their own hands, without incorporating expensive, complicated technology.

Accessible to technicians and hobbyists with many levels of experience, and written to provide inexpensive and creative fun with robotics

Appeals to all sorts of technology enthusiasts, including those involved with electronics, computers, home automation, mechanics, and other areas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Entry Level Text to Robotics
For anyone who is new to robotics or interfacing motors in general, this book will be well received.

What I liked about it is the way it encourages the use of electrical principles to achieve common robotics goals over microcontroller based control.(If you want your robot to come on at night and stay off during the day for example, just use a switching circuit with an LDR or similar device.Why program something that's not necessary).

There is a section on micro processors but it's rather rudimentary and to be honest could probably be skipped over.

The true value of this book comes from the hardware circuits which are instantly accessible out of the box.

I found it a handy reference with great simple circuits that would certainly save a student or casual experimenter a lot of time and hence the title of the book.

This book would be useful on the bookshelf of most robotics enthusiasts and for the price is highly recommended(there were great circuits in this book that could take 4 chapters in some books to get to the point.This book illustrates them in a page, simple straight forward and ready to go which is what this book is about).

If your after the finer points on robotics and prefer a more in depth break down of electrical cicuits (right down to transistor biasing calculations and designing your own switching circuits for complex feedback hardware then this book might not be for you), however even for the advanced robotics enthusiast I'm sure this would be a handy collection of circuits for quick easy reference.

I recommend it and if later on the author was to add a few chapters on programming interfaces for embedded controllers, this book would certainly get a 5 star rating.

Enjoy,
Sean A. Curtin

Don't believe the title
Robotics, Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence may be an odd title for this book, as, while most of the circuit blocks are certainly usable in robotics, there are very few where a robot would be the primary use.There are circuits for anything from Touch Lamps and Light Dimmers through to the more robotic circuits like the particularly good chapter on H-Bridges.There are blocks which cover a good number of uses in robotics and mechatronics, but I don't know exactly where he gets the AI bit of his title.

One thing the title got exactly right though was 'Experimental Ciruit Blocks'.There were a number of errors in type but, more importantly if you're using this book as a reference, the schematics.Things like in the "how to use transistors" chapter he more than once mixes his PNP and NPN transistors.Nearly all of the blocks are fine, just keep on your toes.

Very useful ref of practical examples, but with errors
This is a good ref. for, in particular hobbyists and students, where a collection of useful practical examples can be found.However, I spotted quite a number of errors (both typing errors and errors in circuit diagrams such as wrong pin no., incorrect connection point or polarity).For inexperience users, following exactly some of the circuits may result in producing smoke factory.I would like to recommend to recheck and correct some of these errors.I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars partly because of these errors. ... Read more

Product Description
It has long been the goal of engineers to develop tools that enhance our ability to do work, increase our quality of life, or perform tasks that are either beyond our ability, too hazardous, or too tedious to be left to human efforts. Autonomous mobile robots are the culmination of decades of research and development, and their potential is seemingly unlimited.

Roadmap to the Future
Serving as the first comprehensive reference on this interdisciplinary technology, Autonomous Mobile Robots: Sensing, Control, Decision Making, and Applications authoritatively addresses the theoretical, technical, and practical aspects of the field. The book examines in detail the key components that form an autonomous mobile robot, from sensors and sensor fusion to modeling and control, map building and path planning, and decision making and autonomy, and to the final integration of these components for diversified applications.

Trusted Guidance
A duo of accomplished experts leads a team of renowned international researchers and professionals who provide detailed technical reviews and the latest solutions to a variety of important problems. They share hard-won insight into the practical implementation and integration issues involved in developing autonomous and open robotic systems, along with in-depth examples, current and future applications, and extensive illustrations.

For anyone involved in researching, designing, or deploying autonomous robotic systems, Autonomous Mobile Robots is the perfect resource. ... Read more

Product Description
This cross-disciplinary book investigates engineeringprinciples in the design and development of mechanisms for surgery.The approaches are based on mechanical engineering design principlesand electro-mechanical systems, including mechatronics. The approachesused in this book can be followed by any design engineer. It is alsoof interest to researchers and practitioners in fields such asbiomedical engineering, medical device design, mechanical engineering,electrical kinesiology, and electro-mechanical engineering.
Among the book's contributions to the field:

• Forthose interested in robotics, a new application is presented;
• For those interested in minimally invasive surgery, a newapproach to designing tools is introduced;
• For design engineers,the problems associated with MIS are formulated and addressed. Thedesign constraints and objectives can be used by any other designerfor further improvements or integration.

Customer Reviews (1)

a good introduction for laparoscopic, single-port, NOTEs device
This book is based on the thesis of Ali Faraz. The references collection is well and this book is friendly reading. A 6 joints (DoF) laparoscopic device(Ch2,3); a suture device (Ch4); hepatic sensation (Ch5) are developed, and it is focus on the arm and joint mechanics.
Most of the new books, concerning of laparoscopic/robotic devices, will not cited the old references. Inside the abdominal cavity, the limitation of space is quite different with industry robotic arm. The authors introduced some basic problems, and step by step why the model was chosen, the calculation process.

I'd specially like page 23: about the PRR (SCARA) model.
page 50: concerning about dexterous measurement.
page 59: capturing and oriented the needle cost 40-60% time.
page 75: sensation near joint/page 135: sampling frequency is around/below 2kHz.
page 138: spherical joints got 3 DoF.
page 114, p164: 6 DoF Jacobian matrix is complex, the authors cited Waldron method for calculation.

Though it is published 10 years ago, it is still a very interesting book. And some of the theory had evoluted, continuous used in single-port, NOTEs, and robotic surgery. ... Read more

Product Description

The present book includes a set of selected papers from the 5th "International Conference on Informatics in Control Automation and Robotics" (ICINCO 2008), held in Funchal-Madeira, Portugal, 11-15 May 2008. The conference was organized in three simultaneous tracks: "Intelligent Control Systems and Optimization", "Robotics and Automation" and "Systems Modeling, Signal Processing and Control". The book is based on the same structure. The purpose of this conference is to bring together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested in the application of informatics to Control, Automation and Robotics.

Informatics applications are pervasive in many areas of Control, Automation and Robotics, and this conference intends to emphasize this connection, therefore, most papers highlight applications of Information Technology (IT) in these areas and present ideas on how to solve problems using IT, both in R&D and industrial applications. A diversity of papers are included in the book, ranging from papers describing advanced prototypes, systems, tools and techniques to papers presenting surveys indicating future directions.

Product Description
Robotics is a modern interdisciplinary field that has emergedfrom the marriage of computerized numerical control and remotemanipulation. Today's robotic systems have intelligence features, andare able to perform dexterous and intelligent human-like actionsthrough appropriate combination of learning, perception, planning,decision making and control.
This book presents advanced concepts, techniques and applicationsreflecting the experience of a wide group of specialists in the field.Topics include: kinematics, dynamics, path planning and tracking,control, mobile robotics, navigation, robot programming, andsophisticated applications in the manufacturing, medical, and otherareas.
... Read more

Product Description
Robotic Engineering: An Integrated Approach by Klafter, Richard D. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Decent
If you lack a controls, differential equations and linear algeabra background this book isn't for you. My prof at the time was a co-author and I wanted to see what his work was like.This book is informational since alot of newer books assume you have access to simulink and matlab. This book shows you how to calculate your bit sampling requirements and what the outputs look like if your bit length is too short. ... Read more

Product Description
Microcomputer technology and micromechanical design have contributed to recent rapid advances in Robotics. Particular advances have been made in sensor technology that allow robotic systems to gather data and react "intelligently" in flexible manufacturing systems. The analysis and recording of the data are vital to controlling the robot.
In order to solve problems in control and planning for a Robotic system it is necessary to meet the growing need for the integration of sensors in to the system. Control in Robotics and Automation addresses this need. This book covers integration planning and control based on prior knowledge and real-time sensory information. A new task-oriented approach to sensing, planning and control introduces an event-based method for system design together with task planning and three dimensional modeling in the execution of remote operations.
Typical remote systems are teleoperated and provide work efficiencies that are on the order of ten times slower than what is directly achievable by humans. Consequently, the effective integration of automation into teleoperated remote systems offers potential to improve remote system work efficiency. The authors introduce visually guided control systems and study the role of computer vision in autonomously guiding a robot system.


* Sensor-Based Planning and Control in an Event-Based Approach
* Visually Guided Sensing and Control
* Multiple Sensor Fuson in Planning and Control
* System Integration and Implementation
* Practical Applications ... Read more

Product Description
Chattering Control is a phenomenon that is inherent in a great diversity of interesting nonlinear optimal control problems of applied content. This book will be of interest to a wide variety of mathematicians and engineers working on applications of modern control theory to aeronautics, robotics, economics, and mechanics. This book presents the first systematic treatment of fields of optimal trajectories with an infinite number of switches on a finite time interval. ... Read more

Product Description
Darwin2K: An Evolutionary Approach to Automated Design forRobotics is an essential reference tool for researchers,professionals, and students involved in robot design or inevolutionary synthesis, design, and optimization. It is also necessaryfor users of Darwin2K. Researchers and hobbyists interested in geneticalgorithms and artificial life techniques will find the bookinteresting.

The primary purpose of this book is to describe a methodology forusing computers to automatically design robots to meet the specificneeds of an application. Details of many novel aspects of themethodology are presented, including an evolutionary algorithm forsynthesizing and optimizing multiple objective functions, an algorithmfor dynamic simulation of arbitrary robots, an extensible softwarearchitecture, and a new representation for robots that is appropriatefor robot design. The methodology as a whole is significant in termsof its impact on robot design practices, and as a case study inbuilding evolutionary design systems. Individual parts of the systemsare also relevant to other areas. For example, the evolutionaryalgorithm can be used for design and optimization problems other thanrobotics, and the dynamic simulation algorithm can be used foranalysis and simulation of existing robots or as a part of a manualdesign tool. The book also gives an overview of previous work inautomated design of robots, and of evolutionary design in otherengineering disciplines. ... Read more