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Chapter 30

Building Robot

Electronics— the Basics

n previous chapters you learned all about the mechanics of robots, including their construc-
Ition, motors and wheels, and power systems. In this chapter you’ll discover the electronics
that endow bots with the appearance of life. In this and future chapters you’ll find out ways to
use modern (but still inexpensive) advances in electronics to create fully programmable robots
able to truly think on their own. It’s an exciting endeavor, so let’s get started.

If you’re absolutely new to electronics you may wish to first read the lessons in My First Robot
(see Appendix A, “RBB Online Support,” for details). You’ll learn the very basic concepts of
FYI
electricity and electronics as you build a simple robot pet that explores its surroundings by
touch.

Tools for Electronics You Should Have

Compared to mechanical construction, you need relatively few tools to build the electronic
centerpieces of your robots. You can always spend lots and lots of cash for all kinds of testing
equipment and specialized electronic gear, but what follows are the basics that will get you
started.

MULTIMETER
A multimeter, also called a volt- ohm meter, VOM, or multitester, is used to test voltage
levels and the resistance of circuits— among other things. This moderately priced tool (see
Figure 30- 1) is the basic prerequisite for working with electronic circuits of any kind. If you
don’t already own a multimeter, you should seriously consider buying one. The cost is mini-
mal, considering its usefulness.

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