Page 12 - Anatomy of a Robot

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INTRODUCTION

The boundless energy of youth often must give way to the laws of physics. All too
often I’ve seen bright ideas flounder for a lack of fundamental knowledge. If this book
can foster the development of the art, if it can encourage and educate the robotic com-
munity, if it can provide the missing ingredients—the secret sauce—then I did my job
right. If you have a sense that a robot is more than wires and wheels, then this book is
for you.
Math rules physics, and physics rules robots. This book sheds light on the math and
physics behind a robot design, and does so in an accessible way. The text was written
for all ages, from high school through college and beyond. The math used in the book
includes algebra, calculus, and differential equations. For readers unacquainted with
these subjects, I made sure the text “returns to Earth” often. Nobody should be left
behind. The laws of physics and math are evident in everyday life, and several exam-
ples are given in this book. Throughout the history of science and technology, the path
to great discoveries has almost always started with the observation of simple events.
Newton’s apple, Einstein’s empty room in space, and Shannon’s word games are clear
examples. Proceeding from an intuitive, personal understanding of the basic laws of

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