Links

Below is an extensive list of links to educational, commercial association, and purely commercial web sites. Each link is preceded by a letter which gives some guide to its content type:

• [L] for sites which are just links to other sites
• [E] for educational sites
• [A] for commercial association sites
• [T] for commercial sites which include technical information or guides
• [C] for commercial sites

I am in the process of prefixing a short description to each of these sites, which will be followed by a score out of 5 for each one, based not on their quality, but on their ability to impart useful information to the robot builder. A site may be brilliant but if it does not provide much useful information then it will score low here. Note that purely commercial supplier sites [C] scoring is relevant to how useful their stock is for robot builders, not on any technical content.

• [ -] Commercial sites with no technical content
• [ 1] Of marginal interest or usefulness
• [ 2] Some useful or interesting content
• [ 3] Interesting
• [ 4] Very useful stuff
• [ 5] Essential information

1. Electronics

1.1. General electronics sites

[E4] A collection of tutorials in electronics subjects. Well worth a look.
http://www.designnotes.com/designschool.htm

[L5] A huge collection of links to other electronics sites, nicely indexed.
http://www.epanorama.net/

[L5] Another excellent large collection of links to electronics and software sites.
http://www.pin-outs.com/directory/

[E4] A large resource of articles written by industry insiders, field service engineers, and semiconductor company engineers on a wide variety of electronics subjects.
http://www.chipcenter.com/kc/

[E3] A personal page by an electronics enthusiast. Very entertaining stuff, as well as informative.
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/

[E5] A circuit theory textbook online
http://www.sweethaven.com/acee/forms/toc01.htm

[C5] HVW Tech have many documents on a variety of electronics & robotics subjects on their site
http://www.hvwtech.com/downloads.htm
http://www.hvwtech.com/learning.htm

[E5] Excellent optics resource and community
http://www.optics.net

[E5] Excellent electronics resource and community
http://www.electronicsee.com

1.2. Electronics circuit archives

• http://www.keelynet.com/sources/schema1.htm
• http://www.udl.es/usuaris/p4089324/electronica/esquemas.htm
• http://www.glolab.com/freeinfo/info.html
• http://main.tuniv.szczecin.pl/~mjaskula/tomi/psu.html
• http://www.circuitarchive.co.uk/
• http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/pw/tex/
• http://main.tuniv.szczecin.pl/~mjaskula/tomi/psu.html
• http://www.uslink.net/~cybercir/
• http://www.designnotes.com/circuits/

1.3. Chip information

1.4. Electronics company information

1.5. PCB layout and manufacture

[C5] Eagle Layout Editor - The best free PCB design tool on the web. Superb. Free version is restricted to 10cm x 8cm size and no more than double sided but that still allows very complicated projects. Features schematic capture, extensive libraries, very good ripup-and-retry autorouter, user groups, extensive array of online public domain tools available for it.
http://www.cadsoft.de/

[C5] PCB Pool - Very good value PCB production house. For example, a double sided 10cm x 8cm PCB designed using Eagle above cost just £24 for a one-off including all P&P costs. Based in Ireland. Very helpful on the phone.
http://www.pcbpool.com/

[C3] ExpressPCB - A free PCB layout tool, with optional online manufacturing ordering (from USA). Cheap even though they come from the USA.
http://www.expresspcb.com/

[C5] PROTEUS Lite - A shareware PCB layout package. Better than ExpressPCB but no tied manufacturing service.
Proteus Lite at download.cnet.com

[E5] An excellent description of how to make your own PCBs. I did this stuff for 4 years and came to exactly the same conclusions as Mike has here. Making PCBs really isn't very hard these days now that most people have a PC which can run free layout software, and have a good printer that can print dark black onto transparencies.
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/pcbs.html

[E4] Another guide to making PCBs
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/3569/data/pcb2.htm

[E3] A method of building prototype circuits without making PCBs (and not using the dreaded Veroboard!). I'm not totally convinced by this method, personally I think it is always worth making a PCB. Using the techniques described in the links above, making PCBs is really quite easy.
http://www.chipcenter.com/circuitcellar/december00/c1200sb1.htm

[E5] An article describing the effects bad PCB layout can have, particularly on analogue circuits. Essential reading if you are building your own speed controller!
http://www.chipcenter.com/analog/c060.htm

1.6. Kits

[C3] Quasar Electronics http://www.quasarelectronics.com

[C3] Radio Shack (aka Tandy) http://www.radioshack.com/

[C3] This Greek company sell battery charger kits.
http://www.smartkit.gr/

1.7. MOSFETs

1.8. Optocouplers

[C3] A few manufacturers of optocouplers. All have online datasheets:

[C3] Agilent is the new name for Hewlett Packard Semiconductors.
http://www.semiconductor.agilent.com/isolator/

[C3] IDT:
http://www.idt.com/

[C3] Infineeon is the new name for Siemens Semiconductors.
http://www.infineon.com/cgi/ecrm.dll/ecrm/scripts/prod_cat.jsp?oid=-8198

[C3] Sharp are a big name in optoelectronics:
http://www.sharpsma.com/sma/Products/Opto/new_products/photocouplers.htm

[C3] Toshiba:
http://www.toshiba.com/taec/cgi-bin/display.cgi?table= ProductDetail&ProductID=2796

1.9. Electronic devices for robots

[T5] Acroname make some pretty cool stuff including range finding and machine vision. Lots of technical article here too.
http://www.acroname.com/

[E5] An article describing range finding using the polaroid 6500 ranging module
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/articles/sonar/sonar.html

[E4] Using infra-red devices for range-finding.
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/articles/sharp/sharp.html

[E2] Robot vision - making your robot able to see!
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/articles/ramcam/ramcam.html

1.10. Microcontrollers and development systems

[C3] Quasar Electronics PIC programmer and Atmel ABR programmer
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/pic_programmers.htm
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/atmel_programmers.htm#3122

[C3] The Atmel AVR series is popular amongst hobbyists.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbolt/e-spider_prog.html

[E5] A couple of build-your-own PIC programmers:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/7706/prog2.html

[E2] The Chip Directory section on microprocessors chronicles the development and describes a great many processors.
http://www.chipdir.com/chipdir/f/mcu.htm

[E3] ePanorama's microcontroller links section
http://www.epanorama.net/microprocessor.html#microcontrollers

[C2] Rabbit Semiconductor make a clone Z80 microcontroller with a cheap development kit
http://www.rabbitsemiconductor.com

1.11. Other useful electronics articles

[E3] A beginners guide to what capacitors are
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/caps/caps.htm

[E4] All about capacitors. These devices are not as simple a you may think. An advanced guide.
http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=118415788&i=353328&d=1467049

2. Speed controllers

[C5] 4QD. Manufacturer of speed controllers. Has a lot of good technical info on the site too.
http://www.4qd.co.uk/

[E5] The Open Source Motor Controller project. A speed controller design & project.
http://www.inconnect.com/%7Edennis/osmc/

[C1] IFI Robotics. Manufacturer of speed controllers.
http://www.ifirobotics.com/victor_883.htm

[C5] A description of electronic speed controllers
http://www.omegaco.demon.co.uk/mechtml/fmectech.htm#anchor479856

3. Motors, Solenoids, and Actuators

[C3] Iskra. Manufacturer of electric motors. Includes sketchy performance characteristic graphs. http://www.avtoelektrika.com/

[C1] Parvalux. Manufacturer of electric motors. No technical data that I can find.
http://www.parvalux.co.uk/products.asp

[C5] Litton. Manufacturer of electric motors and actuators. Includes comprehensive datasheets.
http://www.litton-ps.com/Motors/motors.html

[E4] Theory of starter motors. Quite a good page.
http://www.apra.org/publications/electrical/fordther.htm

[E5] Controlling voltage spikes (motor suppression). SGS Thomson Acrobat document.
http://us.st.com/stonline/books/pdf/docs/1703.pdf

[C4] Lynch. Manufacturer of electric motors. Characteristic graphs included.
http://www.lynchmotor.com/

[E4] Using car windscreen wiper motors
http://www.geocities.com/sprite-midget/wipers.htm

4. Batteries

[C3] A commercial battery charger manufacturer
http://www.statpower.com/prdlst3.htm

[C3] A commercial battery charger manufacturer. Not sure whether any of these are suitable for SLA batteries though, even though they say they are suitable for all lead acid batteries.
http://www.gunson.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

[C3] A commercial battery charger manufacturer. Ths company manufacture a device which they purport will bring dead SLA batteries back to life.
http://www.4unique.com/battery/pulsetech/pulsetech.htm

[C3] Ibex make battery chargers and gave lots of useful information on their site.
http://www.ibexmfg.com/index.htm

[C1] US supplier of many types of batteries. Limited technical information.
http://batterymart.com

5. Radio control

5.1. General interest sites

[E5] A comprehensive introduction to using radio control on fighting robots.
http://www.narc.org.uk/bld_elect/rc_index.php

[C4] Loads of helpful articles, mainly about CB, which are still relevant to us.
http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

[C5] The Model Electronics Company site has some great stuff, presenting projects as well as commercial products.
http://www.omegaco.demon.co.uk/mechome.htm

[E5] This radio ham has loads of useful information on his site
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/3569/

[E4] Everything You NEVER Wanted To Know About Radios! Some technical inaccuracies to do with AM & FM bandwidth, but a reasonable introduction.
http://www.torreypinesgulls.org/Radio%20Article.htm

[E4] The theory of superheterodyne (dual conversion) radio receivers
http://www.ezlink.com/~crash/parks/hetbasic.html

[L4] The Panorama Electronics Link Site - Radio section. Loads of links to technical sites to do with radio communications, antennas, etc.
http://www.epanorama.net/radio.html

[E2] The British Model Flying Association has some information on radio control.
http://www.bmfa.org/links_commercial.html

[C2] Low Power Radio Solutions sell telemetry modules. The CDP-02 from Circuit Design operates at 459MHz which is an allowable frequency for Robot Wars in teh UK.
http://www.lprs.co.uk/site01dec99/main.html
http:www.cdt21.com

[L3] Some links to hobby radio control sites.
http://www.welwyn.demon.co.uk/sites.htm

[E4] A good RC information site
http://rcvehicles.miningco.com/hobbies/rcvehicles/library/glossary/bldef_dualcon version.htm

[E2] The Radiocommunications Agency in the UK govern the frequency spectrum. This is the band of the spectrum that we are using.
http://www.radio.gov.uk/document/ra_info/ra365.htm
http://199.104.132.208/ProdCat/tax/0,1252,M942369080308,00.html

[C5] This document from the Model Electronics Company describes all the model frequency bands
http://www.omegaco.demon.co.uk/mechtml/fmectech.htm#anchor80638

[E1] If you are thinking about designing a 40MHz radio link yourself, like I was at one point, then Motorola produce this excellent IC (MC13310) which was designed for CT1 cordless phones that will operate at the 40MHz channel frequencies. Software for driving this chip is shown in the Embedded chapter in "Radio.c".
http://www.mot.com/SPS/WIRELESS/cordless/46_49mhz.html
Motorola ICs

[E1] Unfortunately Motorola no longer supply the above chip. However, a very similar IC, the UAA2062, is produced by Phillips
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/pip/uaa2062ts/c1

[E4] A large site containing information on RC electronics
http://www.eagleairaust.com.au/

5.2. RC Receivers and Servos.

[C5] HVW Tech. Lots of technical information included.
http://www.hvwtech.com/servos.htm

[E4] Information about the encoding of radio control radio sets
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/3220/servotx.html

[E2] Another page like that above
http://home.iprimus.com.au/nooyen/multi.htm

[E5] A basic introduction to radio control servos
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/servos.html

[E5] Another Servo tutorial (in two parts)
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/hobby/servo1.htm
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/hobby/servo2.htm

[E5] More in-depth information on RC servos
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/3220/servobasics.html

[E5] Some circuits for generating and receiving PPM RC signals
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/3569/use/rc-prop.htm

[E3] Servo pinouts and connectors
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/hobby/servopin.htm
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/hobby/leads.htm

[C5] A three part tutorial in PPM radio control
http://www.omegaco.demon.co.uk/mechtml/fmectech.htm#anchor160947

5.3. Radio control hobby stores.

[C2] Quick UK
http://www.quickuk.co.uk/raccs.htm

[C4] Sussex Model Centre
http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/

[C2] Tower Hobbies
http://www.towerhobbies.com/rcweb.html

5.4. Radio control equipment manufacturers

[L3] Links to many RC electronics manufacturers
http://rcvehicles.miningco.com/cs/mfgselectronics/index.htm

[C1] Hitec. Manufacturer of RC sets.
http://rcvehicles.miningco.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site= http://www.hitecrcd.com

[C2] QuickUK supply 40MHz base loaded antennas:
http://www.quickuk.co.uk/raccs.htm

[C2] Novak. Manufacturer of ESCs and receivers
http://www.teamnovak.com

[C2] Airtronics. Manufacturer of RC sets.
=http://www.airtronics.net

[C2] Futaba. Manufacturer of RC sets.
http://www.futaba%2Drc.com

5.5. Radio interference.

Note that this section is specifically about interference problems in radio control modelling. All the comments in the EMC and radio sections also applies.

[E4] An article about interference for RC plane flyers.
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/hobby/rip.htm

[E5] This model club has a page on radio interference and tips on how to reduce the problem.
http://tenthoffroad.co.uk/interference.html

[C5]Technobots supply products to robot builders, and have this excellent help page for EMC.
http://www.technobots.co.uk/technical/guidance/EMI%20and%20how%20to%20deal%20with%20it.pdf

5.6. Antenna.

[E4] Capacity hat antenna used by a competitor
http://www.longrange.net/BattleBot/Antenna.html

[C2] Quick UK supply 40MHz antennas which are rather hard to get hold of. Part no H5330
http://www.quickuk.co.uk/raccs.htm

[C1] Flair products also sell 40MHz antennas. Part no MX75119.
http://www.flairproducts.co.uk

[C1] Radio tech manufacture antennas for the 459MHz band. Part nos Hel-458 and 1/4-458
http://www.radio-tech.co.uk/antenna.html

6. Pneumatics and Hydraulics

[E4] A teaching and practical site on hydraulic engineering
http://home.wxs.nl/~brink494/frm_e.htm

[E5] Integrated Publishing's online book on fluid power. Excellent tutorial!
http://www.tpub.com/fluid/

[E3] John Reid's (builder of KillerHurtz) short guide to pneumatics on fighting robots.
http://www.johnreid.demon.co.uk/howto/pneumatics.htm

[E5] An excellent tutorial all about axe weapons powered by pneumatics. If you can convert the American units (pounds, feet, and slugs!) which he cheekily calls 'English units', then there's a lot of useful information in there.
http://www.planethalflife.com/hlwf/ax1.html

[T2] A commercial site with a reasonable amount of technical explanation of pneumatics and pneumatic components.
http://www.rosscontrols.com/pneu101.htm

[C-] This company supplies paintball equipment, some of which can be used for robotic pneumatic systems.
http://www.paintballplanet.co.uk

7. Mechanical

[E4] A site all about engineering units, and definitions of physical quantities such as energy, power, etc.
http://www.planethalflife.com/hlwf/units.html

[A2] A site by the Engineered Wood Association devoted to technical information about wood products.
http://www.apawood.org/

[C-] A commercial supplier of engineering components - bearings, drives etc. Based in Manchester.
http://www.bsl.co.uk/

[L2] A commercial directory of engineering companies.
http://www.drives.co.uk/buyersguide.html

[C-] A commercial site from IKO, the bearing manufacturer. RS stock these bearings.
http://www.ikont.com/

[C-] A commercial site from Kobo, who make chains, sprockets and other drive equipment.
http://www.kobo.co.uk/
http://www.stosc.stsci.edu/instrument_lab/metals.html
http://www.principalmetals.com/default.htm
http://www.alleghenyludlum.com/prod/type.htm
http://www.granta.co.uk/products.html
http://www.sackinmetals.com/reference.htm
http://www.tiniusolsen.com/techmech.html
http://www.granta.co.uk/cgi-bin/urlsearch.cgi?query=18593-973081881

7.1. Materials

7.1.1. The materials database web site

7.1.2. Titanium

Titanium alloy datasheets
http://www.timet.com/pdfs/alloys.pdf

Titanium data and reference manual
http://www.alleghenytechnologies.com/titanium/pages/help/techguide.htm

Comparative strength to weight ratios
http://www.alleghenytechnologies.com/titanium/pages/help/tech11.htm

7.1.3. Various metals

Mechanical properties of metals

7.1.4. Plastics & composites

Peek
http://www.sdplastics.com/peek.html

Polycarbonate
http://www.plasticsandmetals.com/polycarbonate.html
http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~een0rpt/polycarb.htm

GPA
http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~een0rpt/gpa.htm

Getting started in composites
http://www.fibreglast.com/GettingStartedPage.htm

USA based supplier of carbon fibre laminates. Does custom jobs. Some technical information on web page. May provide sponsorship!
www.dragonplate.com

7.1.5. Plywood

Technical specifications
http://www.apawood.org/pdfs/managed/Y510-T.pdf

Plywood for stressed skin panels
http://www.apawood.org/pdfs/managed/U813-L.pdf

7.1.6. Other materials

7.1.7. Glossaries

Mechanical Properties glossary
http://www.tiniusolsen.com/techmech.html

Plywood glossary
http://www.apawood.org/pdfs/managed/X505-R.pdf

8. Weapons

[E5] An excellent tutorial all about axe weapons powered by pneumatics. If you can convert the American units (pounds, feet, and slugs!) which he cheekily calls 'English units', then there's a lot of useful information in there.
http://www.planethalflife.com/hlwf/ax1.html

9. Suppliers

9.1. Radio control

[L5] A huge list of links to RC companies
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/websites/comp.htm

[C3] Another source of radio control equipment http://www.hobbystores.co.uk/HsLocations.html

[C3] Another source of radio control equipment
http://www.hobbystores.co.uk/index.html

[C3] Another source of radio control equipment
http://www.ripmax.com/

[C3] Another source of radio control equipment
http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/
http://www.btinternet.com/~robertb/supply.htm
http://www.northerntooluk.com/
http://www.metalsuppliersonline.com/Research/Property/step2.asp?FamilyID= 16&Chemical=&Physical=&Mechanical=1
http://www.bonex.co.uk/startpages/framed/home.htm

9.2. Robot stuff

[C2] IFI Robotics - American supplier of robot electronics. Radio sets are at 900MHz though so unusable in the UK.
http://www.ifirobotics.com/

[T5] Acroname make some pretty cool stuff including range finding and machine vision. Lots of technical article here too.
http://www.acroname.com/

9.3. Electronics component distributors

[C5] RS require an online account to be opened to order through, which is easy enough. They have loads of technical information and datasheets online too which is good.
http://rswww.com/

[C5] Farnell accept private (non-account) orders using a credit card. They have a large range of datasheets online too.
http://www.farnell.co.uk

[C3] Maplin allow full web ordering.
http://www.maplin.co.uk

[C2] Web orders from CPC must be through an account unfortunately, but you can browse the catalogue and order over the phone.
http://www.cpc.co.uk

9.4. Electronics test equipment

[C-] Triplett are an American TE company that make a cheap ($109) clamp-on DMM. From their site, navigate along "Site Navigation Menu -> Products Menu -> Digital Testers -> Model 9310 AC/DC Clamp-On Meter" http://www.triplett.com/

Better still, this clamp-on ammeter (model number 72-6174) just plugs into your existing DMM and only costs £30. It is available from CPC in the UK.
Tenma

10. Robot combat organisations, competitions, and forums

[E5] UK Robot Wars and its discussion forum. Tip Swap is the most useful conversation in the forum. http://www.robotwars.co.uk
http://www.robotwars.co.uk/forum

[E2] The National Association for Robot Competition, which also has a message forum
http://www.narc.org.uk/info/home.php

[E3] The American BattleBots, and forum
http://www.battlebots.com/

[T3] Acroname (a commercial supplier of advanced robotic equipment) operate a forum, based mostly around their parts
http://www.easierrobotics.com/forums/index.html

[E4] Electrotech online have several relevant forums
http://www.electro-tech-online.com/

11. Robotics

[E5] Reading Universities robotics department links. This is the premier robotics university in the UK, which features Professor KevinWarwick in the Cybernetics department.
http://www.cyber.reading.ac.uk/W.Harwin/WWW/Robotics1.html

12. Build guides

[E3] Army Of Darkness team website.
http://robotwars.00server.com/index.html

[E3] Team delta website.
http://www.teamdelta.com/topten.htm

[E3] How to make an antweight motor.
http://freespace.virgin.net/oliver.steeples/enter.htm

[E3] Slippery Strana's guide to building an antweight robot.
http://slipperystrana.a-history.co.uk/robotwars.html

[E3] Team Vicous website.
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicious6/robots.htm

[E3] Hell raiser's build guide.
http://www.hell-raizer.co.uk/HellRaizer/bguide.html

[E3] Team Guv'nor build guide.
http://www.cpg1.freeserve.co.uk/tech/tech.htm

[E3] Xno build guide.
http://www.geocities.com/xnorobot/buildguide.htm

Books

1. Electronics

The Art of Electronics

DESCRIPTION: The bible of electronics design engineers. If you only get one electronics book, get this one!

Digital System Design

SYNOPSIS: The second edition of this work introduces the fundamental topics of digital system design. Divided into three parts, it covers logic design (into which a new section on ANSI/IEEE floating point standard has been included), the components of a microprocessor system and more extended aspects of digital system design. A major new chapter on VLSI system design and testing by Rafic Makki is included. In the second part, a new chapter discusses the instructions found in microprocessors, and three 32-bit processors are used as examples (the Motorola 88100 RISC processor, the Intel 80 x 86 family and the Motorola 680 x 0 family). In the third part, the material offered is a continuation of chapter 4 in part one, dealing with sequential circuit design. It offers a more detailed view. There is also a new section on designing with programmable logic devices (PLD).

AMAZON REVIEW: Good book for people starting to learn Digital systems. A well laid out book for university people wanting to learn the basics about Digital Systems design. May be not that good value for money, but the book is still good.

PIC microcontrollers for beginners,too!

RF Circuit Design

• The Best RF design book I know. I first saw this book about ten years ago. It was great then and I still refer to it about once every month for routine design calculations that I can never remember. New RF engineers tend to think that there is one correct solution to every problem. Unfortunately in RF usualy there isn't, but as far as the nuts and bolts that can be calculated, looking in Mr Bowick's book is the easiest way to understand how it's done. It is easiest because there are worked examples that go through every step. It's a great confidence booster to know that design calculations are correct, if if your circuit isn't working quite as you expected! The weakness of the book is that it doesn't try to treat the 'black art' areas such as oscillators and phase noise, and it only scratches the surface of PA design. This is not a serious failing however as other books attempt to cover this. Nor is it a circiut cookbook, try the ARRL manuals for that. There is no 'rocket science' in this book, just the basics, but the treatment of the material is brilliant. In summary, this is the first RF book you should buy, then you need lots of other books (to look at, at least) and lots of experience of solving real RF problems.
• An excellent, concise, introduction to RF circuit design. The emphasis is on the practical aspects relating to RF circuit design. The first chapter covers components at RF frequencies, a subject often overlooked by unwary designers. Impedance matching, filters, and an introduction to the Smtih(c) Chart are covered in the text. RF small signal and power amplifier design is also explained. The text does an excellent job of taking the reader from the device data sheet to a practical RF circuit design using concepts developed throughout the book. Technicians and hobbyists as well as engineers may benefit from the book's straight-forward writing style. Bowick has kept the mathematics as simple as possible, one only needs algebra and minimal complex number (covered in appendix) theory understanding to work the many problems and examples. This book is used by several companies specializing in RF circuit design training as a textbook for their introductory classes. A must for anyone who is new to the RF design field and wants to come up-to-speed quickly. I recommend the book highly to all, it has been an invaluable resource for me.

The Arrl Handbook for Radio Amateurs 2001

• The Communications "Bible". The ARRL Handbook is a world renowned "bible" of communications. In teaching ham radio classes, where I use my own book "Ride the Airwaves with ALFA & ZULU", the ARRL Handbook is recommended to students of all ages as the ultimate source of information. Years ago, when I was studying electronic engineering in college, I used the ARRL Handbook often for a clear, practical explanation of technical material. Whether you become a ham or not, this is one book that is a "must buy"!
• The ultimate book on radio technology for over 75 years. The ARRL Handbook is a must in any ham's, technician's, or engineer's technical library! No book in the wireless field is more respected and admired for its in-depth coverage of RF circuits, ham projects, practical theory, and operating practices than the ARRL Handbook.
• My last ARRL Handbook I purchased was in 1980. I kept putting off getting another for the past 10 years and kind of glad I did! The 1999 ARRL Handbook is jammed packed with valuable electrical formulas and theories, componant data and any degree of challanging projects you desire from the beginner to the advanced. Satellite communications and data tranmission protocols are well covered. This book is a must have for those who want everything in one place and not needing 3 or 4 different books to reference.

Practical Antenna Handbook (TAB Mastering Electronics Series)

SYNOPSIS: Antennas are basic to all forms of communications, and this text covers the various types of antennas. There is a practical introduction to designing, construction, and installing a wide range of communication antennas. --This text refers to the Paperback edition of this title.

PUBLISHER'S REVIEW: The most popular book on antennas ever written, widely known as "the antenna builder's bible", Joe Carr's Practical Antenna Handbook is a work for anyone with an interest in antennas, from novices to experienced engineers. The third edition blends theoretical concepts needed to design practical antennas, and the hard-learned practical lessons derived from actually building and using antennas. NEW! Added Material on: *Wire antenna construction methods * Antenna modeling software * Antennas for radio astronomy * Antennas for Radio Direction Finding.

2. Robotics

This site has a list of quite advanced books about machine intelligence and suchlike.
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/c_Books.html

Robot Builder's Bonanza

DESCRIPTION: A major revision of the best-selling "bible" of amateur robotics building--packed with the latest in servo motor technology, microcontrolled robots, remote control, Lego Mindstorms Kits, and other commercial kits. Gives electronics hobbyists fully illustrated plans for 11 complete Robots, as well as all-new coverage of Robotix-based Robots, Lego Technic-based Robots, Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms, and Location and Motorized Systems with Servo Motors. Features a pictures and parts list that accompany all projects, and material on using the BASIC Stamp and other microcontrollers.

AMAZON REVIEWS: (4/5, 5/5) see http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830628002/r/026-2905401-6908419

Build Your Own Robot

AMAZON REVIEW: (4/5) The author is very passionate about his subject making this an enjoyable as well as informative book. The circuits and mechanics are simple (if you have a little electronics background). Made me wish I lived in Seattle.

Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build

AMAZON REVIEW: (4/5) This is one of the great books for robot builders. It has very comprehensive notes and information for builders. But this is not recommended for beginners or even builders who do not have knowledge about neural networks. So I would say this is a great book, if you are an experience builder with neural network knowldege.!!!

An Introduction to Robotics

SYNOPSIS: This is an introduction for the amateur to the ideas and concepts, both theoretical and practical, of robotics. It is divided into two sections. The first covers how and why robots work and how they are controlled. The second discusses how to make a simple two-legged humanoid robot that can be programmed to walk. There are no complicated formulae or equations to grapple with or complicated circuit diagrams to decipher, and you do not have to be a machinist or a programmer. The robot can be built quickly on a workbench or even a kitchen table, with a minimum number of hand-tools, and all the parts are easily available.

AMAZON REVIEW: (5/5) A truly great book for beginners. I bought this book knowing nothing about the workings or theory behind robotics. This book starts you off with a gentle history of the technology that makes robots possible and goes through all the theory of what a robot should be with regard to your needs. Once you are confident in the workings and software side of things part two of the book shows you how to build the robot pictured on the cover, giving all working dimensions of the robot, all the programmes needed to control it, plus even a list of suppliers where you can buy the components. All in all, a very interesting and easily understandable book which will be of benefit to anyone with a passing interest in robotics.

Robotics

SYNOPSIS: This introductory text comprehensively covers the manipulator and the basic geometries used on robotic systems; electric motor drive systems and hydraulic pneumatic drive systems; communication between components in work- shell and communication to host computers. Full coverage of interfacing, end-of- arm tooling, sensors and vision systems is included, and the final chapter focuses on retraining, economic considerations, and workers' fears concerning robots. As with computer controlled devices, programming is discussed throughout the text and includes the latest technology, incorporating a variety of contemporary robotic systems from industry. Changes to the second edition include a discussion of SCARA ROBOTS, aspects of safety included throughout the text and an additional chapter added, identifying the fundamentals of communication as used between robot controller and peripheral devices within the work-cell. This book should be of interest to degree and diploma students on courses covering the operation of robotic systems in departments of electrical and electronic engineering.

Robotics

SYNOPSIS: At last a robotics design guide packed with fascinating examples and brilliant design ideas. Most robotics and automation books today emphasize the electrical and control aspects of design without any practical coverage of how to design and build the components, the machine, or the system. The author draws on his years of industrial design experience to show the reader the design process by focusing on the real, physical parts of robots and automated systems. Robotics, is an essential addition to the toolbox of any engineer or hobbyist involved in the design of any type of robot or automated mechanical system. It is the only book available that takes the reader through a step-by-step design process in this rapidly advancing specialty area of machine design. This book provides the professional engineer and student with important and detailed methods and examples of how to design the mechanical parts of robots and automated systems.

Features:

• Answers the questions: How are machines built? How do they work? How does one best approach the design process for a specific machine?
• Thoroughly updated with new coverage of modern concepts and techniques, such as rapid modelling, automated assembly, parallel-driven robots, and mechatronic systems
• Uses real-world examples and problems that every reader can understand without difficulty
• Includes a large number of high-quality illustrations
• Integrates self-study and homework problems into the text along with the solutions so that both the engineering professional and the student will find the text very useful

3. Mechanical

Practical Welding

SYNOPSIS: This title has been written for students taking welding courses at technical schools, colleges and other training institutions. It should also be of use to other courses where welding forms part of the studies, such as in construction and metalwork. Welding theory is structured around practical information and welding processes. This is supported by illustrations and examples of actual welding tasks and jobs. The underlying focus of this text is that of relating the principles of welding to actual practical situations. The "Motivate" series has been developed to meet the need for practical, appropriate and up-to-date technical and vocational core textbooks. The series is based on the principle that each book must be relevant to the needs of the reader, and contain all that is required for a comprehensive understanding and study of the subject area. Each title in the series highlights the key concepts; includes illustrations, examples and exercises; features end-of-chapter summaries allowing for self-check, followed by exercises and questions; answers to the questions and a list of key words.

AMAZON REVIEWS:

• This is a great book if you want to teach youself to weld with little or no other help. It has techniques for almost all types of welding, and for each of which it goes into detail about how to apply what you have learnt to real situations. Great stuff!
• This book was written to teach students who needed to learn how to weld, to learn quickly, and to understand everything that is of real and practical relevance to them. It manages to hit just the right balance of sufficient theory to gain understanding, but not too much to make it heavy reading. A splendid course handbook, or even a self-teaching guide.