Robotics books

[Andrew Lawrence]

I've just finished "The New Cool" for the 9001st time, and feel like reading a new book. I would still like it to be about robotics/technology, and non-fiction stories are preferable, but fiction will do. So, ChiefDelphi, what are some good books I should read?

[JB987]

If you really are open to fiction then consider reading Isaac Asimov's "I Robot"... inspiration for the movie of same title with Will Smith.

[kumar_1086]

Probably have read "The New Cool" as much as you have. One of my friends recommended this great book. As he said " good old-fashioned awesomeness"
It is called "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich and Leo Janos.

The memoir of engineer Ben Rich, discussing in great detail the workings of
Lockheed’s super-secret “Skunk Works” during the second half of the 20th
century,

Trust me it's a GREAT book.

[MentorOfSteel]

Almost Human: Making Robots Think by Lee Gutkind is a "creative nonfiction" book that provides a decent snapshot of what it is like to do robotics research at the university level. It gets uneven reviews on Amazon. I liked it (I am a bit biased because it describes projects I know well) and I suspect that most FIRST folks will like it too.

http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Human-Making-Robots-Think/dp/0393336840/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1314112067&sr=8-15

-George

[dustinjones36]

"Riding Rockets" by Mike Mulane is an excellent book, and looks in depth at the modern day NASA astronaut corps. I agree, "Skunk Works" was an awesome book. I've read it many times.

[~Cory~]

If you haven't already read it:

FIRST Robots: Aim High: Behind the Design

Is an awesome book. It really helped with logomotion :rolleyes:

[Jon Stratis]

If you really are open to fiction then consider reading Isaac Asimov's "I Robot"... inspiration for the movie of same title with Will Smith.

And beyond that... Asimov's Foundation series is pretty good. It wasn't until fairly late in the series that he decided to merge the Foundation and Robot series, but the New Foundation trilogy by Brin, Benford, and Bear fully integrate both series.

As for other tech books... I personally love Neal Stephenson's books. None of them are really about robots, but they do address different areas of technology within great stories (such as Cryptonomicon, which deals primarily with cryptology, both modern and older styles). In general, they are books that really make you think about not only modern technology around you, but the history and rise of that technology.

[JamesBrown]

It is called "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich and Leo Janos.

The memoir of engineer Ben Rich, discussing in great detail the workings of
Lockheed’s super-secret “Skunk Works” during the second half of the 20th
century,

Trust me it's a GREAT book.

One of my favorite books about engineering, I highly reccomend it.

[O'Sancheski]

If you haven't already read it:

FIRST Robots: Aim High: Behind the Design

Is an awesome book. It really helped with logomotion :rolleyes:

Do you mean Rack and Roll? Because I did the same thing.