Build Your Own Robot

A DIY guide to bringing your first robot to life with cheap and basic components.

Build Your Own Robot introduces you to the exciting world of robotics in a way that’s fun and affordable! You’ll build your own real robot with easy-to-find hardware and free open source software. Plus, all the components you need can be assembled with simple tools like a screwdriver.

In Build Your Own Robot you’ll learn how to:

• Use cameras to capture photos and let your robot see
• Add cameras and basic computer vision
• Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
• Write a web app to control your robot
• Set up controls for joysticks
• Read QR codes to find and identify objects

This book shows you how anyone can start building their own robot—no special soldering or electronic skills required. All you need is some basic Python know-how to get started. From scratch, you’ll go hands-on with DC motors, touch sensors, custom shell scripting, joystick controls, and even face detection for your robot friend.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the technology

You can build your own robot! With this book, you’ll use readily-available hardware and author Marwan Alsabbagh’s clear step-by-step instructions to create a robot that moves, manipulates objects, and responds to its environment. Along the way, you’ll learn some serious skills like computer vision, networking, and the basics of robotics programming.

About the book

Build Your Own Robot is a project-based guide that takes you from spinning your first DC motor to programming a mobile robot that you can control from your phone or computer. You’ll write simple Python code to help your new friend spin, move, and find its way. You’ll even teach it to track faces and fetch snacks. Plus, a helpful hardware purchasing guide makes it easy to find exactly what you need to get started!

What's inside

• Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
• Write a web app to control your robot
• Adding cameras and basic computer vision
• Read QR codes to find and identify objects

About the author

Marwan Alsabbagh is a seasoned software developer, who has studied mathematics and computer science at McGill University.

eBook License

End-User Warranty and License Agreement

1. Grant of License

Manning has authorized the download by you of an unrestricted number of copies of the electronic book (ebook) in any of the available formats. Manning grants you a nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use the ebook according to the terms and conditions herein. This License Agreement permits you to install the ebook on any and all your devices for your personal use only.

2. Restrictions

You shall not: (1) share, resell, rent, assign, timeshare, distribute, or transfer all or part of the ebook or any rights granted hereunder to any other person; (2) duplicate the ebook, except for a single backup or archival copy; (3) remove any proprietary notices, labels, or marks from the ebook; (4) transfer or sublicense title to the ebook to any other party.

3. Intellectual Property Protection

The ebook is owned by Manning and is protected by United States and international copyright and other intellectual property laws. Manning reserves all rights in the ebook not expressly granted herein. This license and your right to use the ebook terminate automatically if you violate any part of this Agreement. In the event of termination, you must remove the original and any copies of the ebook from all your devices.

4. Source Code Supplementary Material

Any source code files provided as a supplement to the book are freely available to the public for download. Reuse of the code is permitted, in whole or in part, including the creation of derivative works, provided that you acknowledge that you are using it and identify the source: title, publisher and year.

5. Limited Warranty

Manning warrants that the ebook files, a copy of which you are authorized to download, are free from defects in the operational sense that they can be read by a PDF Reader or ePub reader, or other. EXCEPT FOR THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY, MANNING MAKES AND YOU RECEIVE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR IN ANY COMMUNICATION WITH YOU, AND MANNING SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER WARRANTY INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS OR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. MANNING DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE OPERATION OF THE EBOOK WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE. If the ebook was purchased in the United States, the above exclusions may not apply to you as some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties. In addition to the above warranty rights, you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.

6. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT WILL MANNING BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING FOR TORT OR CONTRACT, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, LOST PROFITS, OR OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE EBOOK.

7. General

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and Manning and supersedes any prior agreement concerning the ebook. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York.