Build A Remote-Controlled Robot

The author's introduction goes into detail about the orgin and definition of the word 'Robot' and how it applies to this 'Showbot' project. However, the machine outlined in this book is not a robot in that it has no onboard sensing or decision circuitry at all. It is a remote controlled roving person shaped device complete with vacuum cleaner and beverage dispenser. If that's what your looking for this is a great book, but if you want to learn about robots capable of autonomous actions, look around some more - I recommend 'Programming Robot Controllers' or 'Building Robot Drive Trains' both from the Robot DNA series or even 'Robot Building for Beginners' as a better starting point.