Ellen Thro

Where the term "robot" came from?

How long robots have been characters in movies?

What part robots have played in the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center after 9/11?

What's "intelligent" about intelligent robots?

How important robots are in space exploration?

What roles robots are playing in the military?

What future robots are likely to look like and do?

The first robots that I loved were fictional ones in movies, books, and TV shows. Then I discovered that fictional robots have fascinated people for centuries, because they often represent our hopes and fears. Today, REAL robots are becoming more and more common as helpers and even intelligent assistants.

This new edition of Robotics has been completely updated and expanded to chart the many advances made in this field since the first edition was published, nearly ten years ago. As an example, the book cover shows the intelligent and trainable home companion robot called Aibo, built by Sony in Japan.

The book gives the reader a thorough understanding of this amazing science. It is ideal for the increasing number of beginners interested in this growing field and is suitable for people in grades 6-12. Its overview of robotics includes:

= A history of the development of robotics, from ancient times to the present, including a Robot Family Tree, which displays the five "families" that have united to comprise modern robotics.

= The anatomy of a robot - "arms" and "legs," joints, sensors that mimic human vision and touch, control mechanisms, and sometimes "brains."

= The ways industrial robots are used around the world.

= The roles of specialized robots - those used in space exploration, hazardous situations, and the military.

= The relationship between artificial intelligence and robotics.

= The kinds of home-oriented, competitive, and recreational robots that are available now. And,

= Future trends in robotics.


Robotics also has numerous illustrations, a chronology, a glossary, a list of books for further reading, a list of robotics-related Websites, and a list of stores and Websites that sell robots, robot kits, and robotics books, and an index.