Fun robotics projects that teach kids to make, hack, and learn!

Introduction: get started with robot-building -- About this book -- Basic tools and supplies -- About you -- For parents -- About the icons -- Project 1: make a brushbot, fast and easy! -- Understanding what makes a robot -- Building your first robot: make a brushbot "walking" robot -- For vibrating motors: hack your toothbrush -- Use just the right bristle brush -- Materials you need -- Tools you need -- Making the brushbot -- simple version -- Making the brushbot -- open guts version -- Remove the battery compartment and motor from the toothbrush -- Only if needed: cut off the brush head -- Tape the battery compartment to the motor -- Test the motor -- Attach a rubber band to hold the battery cover in place -- Glue the motor to the back of the brush -- Going further -- Project 2: build a robot from a toy car -- Building a motorized robotic buggy -- Find the right toy car -- Materials you need -- Tools you need -- Making the bot -- Take the body off the car chassis -- Add a rubber layer to the motor shaft -- Wire the motor -- Mount the motor -- Test the motor with a battery -- Connect and mount the batteries -- Playing with your robot buggy -- Going further -- Project 3: build a mousebot -- Getting everything rounded up -- Materials you need -- Tools you need -- Making the mousebot -- Add a rubber "tire" to the motor shafts -- Attach wires to the motors -- Cut the base piece -- Mount the motors -- Add a "tail" -- Test each motor with a battery -- Wire the battery holder -- Mount the battery holder -- Playing with the mousebot -- Going further -- Project 4: hack a radio-controlled toy -- Finding radio-controlled toys for robot forging -- The good, the bad, and the not so pretty -- Steering styles -- Two examples of hackable R/C toys -- Hacking the car-type R/C toy -- Materials you need -- Tools you need -- Disassemble the toy car -- Cut the parts for the switch and control base -- Construct the switch -- Wire the switch to create an "H-bridge" circuit -- Wire the switch to the motor -- Attach the wires to the R/C car motor -- Wire the battery holder -- Mount the battery holder -- Test the R/C car using your homebrew switch -- Substituting with readymade switches -- Extra parts you need -- Wire the switches -- Run the R/C car through its paces -- Going further.