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  • Textbook
  • Open Access
  • © 2018

Elements of Robotics

  • Presents algorithms at a high-level that can be adapted for use with any educational robot

  • Demonstrates advanced topics (localization, mapping, machine learning, swarm robotics) in simplified contexts

  • Facilitates the transition from playing with robots to studying robotics for industrial and research applications

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. Robots and Their Applications

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 1-20Open Access
  3. Sensors

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 21-37Open Access
  4. Reactive Behavior

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 39-53Open Access
  5. Finite State Machines

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 55-61Open Access
  6. Robotic Motion and Odometry

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 63-93Open Access
  7. Control

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 95-109Open Access
  8. Local Navigation: Obstacle Avoidance

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 111-126Open Access
  9. Localization

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 127-139Open Access
  10. Mapping

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 141-163Open Access
  11. Mapping-Based Navigation

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 165-178Open Access
  12. Fuzzy Logic Control

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 179-183Open Access
  13. Image Processing

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 185-201Open Access
  14. Neural Networks

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 203-220Open Access
  15. Machine Learning

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 221-250Open Access
  16. Swarm Robotics

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 251-265Open Access
  17. Kinematics of a Robotic Manipulator

    • Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada
    Pages 267-291Open Access
  18. Back Matter

    Pages 293-308

About this book

This open access book bridges the gap between playing with robots in school and studying robotics at the upper undergraduate and graduate levels to prepare for careers in industry and research. Robotic algorithms are presented formally, but using only mathematics known by high-school and first-year college students, such as calculus, matrices and probability. Concepts and algorithms are explained through detailed diagrams and calculations.

Elements of Robotics presents an overview of different types of robots and the components used to build robots, but focuses on robotic algorithms: simple algorithms like odometry and feedback control, as well as algorithms for advanced topics like localization, mapping, image processing, machine learning and swarm robotics. These algorithms are demonstrated in simplified contexts that enable detailed computations to be performed and feasible activities to be posed. Students who study these simplified demonstrations will be well prepared for advanced study of robotics.

The algorithms are presented at a relatively abstract level, not tied to any specific robot. Instead a generic robot is defined that uses elements common to most educational robots: differential drive with two motors, proximity sensors and some method of displaying output to the user.

The theory is supplemented with over 100 activities, most of which can be successfully implemented using inexpensive educational robots. Activities that require more computation can be programmed on a computer. Archives are available with suggested implementations for the Thymio robot and standalone programs in Python.

Reviews

“The book is a valuable and lucidly written introduction to the area of robotics. It does a very good job by delivering a sound and coherently structured topics central to the robotics area. … The book would appeal to a broad audiences of high school students, undergraduate students and all of those who have interest in the basics. Overall, this is a well-thought out indispensable material of a solid educational value.” (Witold Pedrycz, zbMATH 1407.93001, 2019)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Science Teaching, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

    Mordechai Ben-Ari

  • Laboratoire de Systèmes Robotiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Francesco Mondada

About the authors

Mordechai (Moti) Ben-Ari is with the Department of Science Teaching at the Weizmann Institute of Science. He has written many textbooks including Mathematical Logic for Computer Science (Springer, 2012). Ben-Ari is a Distinguished Educator of the ACM and has received the ACM/SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.

Francesco Mondada is with the Laboratory of Robotics Systems at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He has co-designed several mobile robots for research and education that are used in thousands of schools. Mondada has received several awards, including the Latsis Prize and the Credit Suisse Best Teaching Award.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Elements of Robotics

  • Authors: Mordechai Ben-Ari, Francesco Mondada

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62533-1

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Computer Science, Computer Science (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • License: CC BY

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-62532-4Published: 10 November 2017

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-62533-1Published: 25 October 2017

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 308

  • Number of Illustrations: 122 b/w illustrations, 76 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, Robotics and Automation

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access