Robotics & Automation News

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Elsevier launches four new academic books about robotics

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Elsevier has launched four new books in the area of robotics. 

The publisher says the books are “ideal” and “perfect” resources for researchers and practitioners in the relevant sectors. 

Wheeled Mobile Robotics: From Fundamentals Towards Autonomous Systems

Wheeled Mobile Robotics

By Gregor Klancar, Andrej Zdesar, Saso Blazic and Igor Skrjanc

This book explains all applied theory and applications from the wide area of mobile robotics. It provides readers with a good foundation, enabling them to continue to more advanced topics.

The book includes several examples of discussed methods and projects for wheeled mobile robots and some advanced methods for their control and localization, many of them accompanied by short MatLab script code for reuse in practical work.

Elsevier says this is an ideal resource for those seeking an understanding of robotics, mechanics and control, and for engineers and researchers in industrial and other specialized research institutions in the field of wheeled mobile robotics.

Cellular Actuators: Modularity and Variability in Muscle-inspired Actuation

Cellular Actuators

By Jun Ueda, Joshua Schultz and Harry Asada

This book describes the roles actuators play in robotics and their insufficiency in emerging new robotic applications, such as wearable devices and human co-working robots where compactness and compliance are important.

Piezoelectric actuators, the topic of this book, provide advantages like displacement scale, force, reliability and compactness, and rely on material properties to provide displacement and force as reactions to electric stimulation.

The book presents the fundamentals of muscle-like movement and a system-wide study that includes the design, analysis and control of biologically inspired actuators.

Elsevier says this is the perfect guide for researchers and practitioners who would like to deploy this technology in their research and products.

Path Planning for Vehicles Operating in Uncertain 2D Environments

Path Planning for Vehicles

By Viacheslav Pshikhopov

This book presents a survey of accounting limitations imposed by vehicle dynamics that includes several modified and new path planning methods developed using fuzzy logic, grapho-analytical search, neural networks, and neural-like structures, procedures of genetic search, and unstable motion modes.

It provides the tools for novice researchers to select a method that would suit their needs or help to synthesize new hybrid methods.

Elsevier says this book is written for scientists working in the areas of system analysis, robotics and control systems; vehicle control systems designers; developers of control systems and algorithms for robotic complexes; and post-graduate and graduate students studying robotics, control systems and mechatronics, or preparing their theses.

Microbiorobotics: Biologically Inspired Microscale Robotic Systems, Second Edition

Microbiorobotics 2nd Edition

By Minjun Kim, Anak Agung Julius and U Kei Cheang

This book presents information on a new engineering discipline that takes a multidisciplinary approach to accomplish precise manipulation of microscale spaces. The latest edition covers new advances and insights that have emerged in recent years.

Several chapters have been added on important new research areas, with existing chapters thoroughly revised. In particular, increased coverage is given to fluid dynamics of microswimmers in nature.

Elsevier says this book is a valuable resource for MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) engineers; mechanical, biomedical and electrical engineers in corporate R&D groups and academia; robotics professionals; and graduate students in these disciplines.