Book Description

Step-by-step instructions show you how to build five fascinating robots, including the author's famous robotic dog, MIBO.

The LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics kits make it easy and fun to build working robots with LEGO bricks, motors, and a programmable controller. In his landmark book, Jin Sato introduces the basic principles in robotic engineering, including how to plan and build robots with tires, legs, and grasping hands. Readers even learn how to build Sato's famous robotic dog MIBO as well as four other robots. Includes a parts list for the robots and coverage of the programming environment, assembly drawings, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for the expert mindstorms developer
This is a very well written book. You can tell from the text that Mr. Sato is an expert at Mindstorms.

Unfortunately, the book covers chapter after chapter of project parts and programming code that do not ship with the $200 LEGO Mindstorms: Robotics Invention System 2.0 718 piece kit. If you are really into Mindstorms and want to hand-code your programs outside the supplied GUI interface using downloaded languages, this is a great book. But, if you just purchase the Robotics Invention System 2.0 kit, then this book is not going to help much unless you download more software from non-lego web sites, and purchase even more lego hardware. I returned the book.

An essential reference for all dedicated Lego hobbyists
In Jin Sato's Lego Mindstorms: The Master's Technique, software researcher and Lego expert Jin Sato offers an incredible, "user friendly" guide to making wondrous creations with Lego Mindstorms. Written by the creator of the MIBO robotic dog, individual chapters include computer programming and source code to craft balanced and functional assembly designs; putting together working gears step-by-step; and explicit instructions on how to create one's own MIBO or other grand projects, and more! Jin Sato's superbly presented, deftly written, 364 pages instructional guide is an essential reference for all dedicated Lego hobbyists.

Well worth the wait
GET THIS BOOK!

I've been waiting for this book for a few months now and I must say it was well worth the wait -- even if all you want to do is to build MIBO. Jin Sato really is the master, and it's alot easier to have him tell you how to build MIBO than it is to figure it yourself. It's quite a complicated model but an amazing challenge. The introductions to the various software are great too, and it's great to see things through Sato's eyes. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A very good introductory book to computer vision
Every comer to the field of computer vision should read this book. It has the right mix of theory and practical examples for beginners. It strives to provide very precise definition for terms, which are very helpful to enforce the learning process.

One of the best books on the topic
This is a very precise and well organized books. Every chapter is well justified and moreover each chapter contains relevant algorithms and psuedocode to address the problems discussed. This makes the book particularly practical and useful. Topics discussed follow each other naturally and the authors have done a great job of covering the topics conisely without going overboard.

An instant classic
Every newcomer to the field of computer vision should own this book. With a well organized blend of theory and algorithms, this text clearly and (as important) succinctly introduces the key elements of computer vision. This text has the best introduction to epipolar geometry that I've seen. For a reference, it's very thin. However, for an introductory text, it is hard for me to imagine a much better one. I am not aware of any book that is even comparable.

Such a great book for novice in computer vision !!!
It's a pretty good reference for the one who want to start in computer vision ,espectially in stereo graphic field. With its comprehensive explanation and well oganization,it should be the first book in your computer vision bookshelf.

It is much more than an excellent book
It is an interesting book that can be read with easiness recommended for all the courses of artificial vision, its brings important algorithms, annotations and interesting internet addresses where one can know more about this topic. The division of the book is interesting sandal in an easy way the topic of the vision stereoscopy, connecting the different topics and allowing to the reader, with a simple but technical leguaje, to select those that more they make comfortable to its necessities. ... Read more

Book Description

The mobile robot systems described in this book were selected from among the best available implementations by leading universities and research laboratories. These are robots that have left the lab and been tested in natural and unknown environments. They perform many different tasks, from giving tours to collecting trash. Many have distinguished themselves (usually with first- or second-place finishes) at various indoor and outdoor mobile robot competitions.

Each case study is self-contained and includes detailed descriptions of important algorithms, including pseudo-code. Thus this volume serves as a recipe book for the design of successful mobile robot applications. Common themes include navigation and mapping, computer vision, and architecture.

Contributors: Ronald Arkin, Tucker Balch, Michael Brady, Don Brutzman, Arno Bucken, R. James Firby, Erann Gat, Tony Healy, Ian Horswill, Housheng Hu, Sven Koenig, Kurt Konolige David Kortenkamp, Dave Marco, Bob McGhee, Robin Murphy, Karen Myers, Illah Nourbakhsh, Peter Prokopowicz, Bill Schiller, Reid Simmons, Michael Swain, Sebastian Thrun. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

---my bad-----
-this review written in error----but amazon does not let you delete them on your own.

a good book for roboticists
I am a newly enrolled graduate student and finding inspirations for my research topic.I am interested in the field of mobile robots but don't know where to start.This book certainly gives me an overview on what I can do.For those who don't have prior knowledge to this field,I suggest you to read the Behavior-based robotics by Ronald Arkin first.Both of them are interesting and easy to follow.My only complaint to this book is the lack of details in the book.But as others suggested,I can look for the bibilography.So though this book is not perfect,I still rated it with 5 stars.

Good Reference
This book should be a standard for anyone interested in robotics. It is a wonderful survey of what works. Some might complain of a lack of detail, but I disagree. There is more than enough detail for you to understand the systems discussed and if you really want to learn more about exactly how a particular system was implemented, use the bibliography. Once you know who did what and where, it's easy to find the original papers on the web.

Excellent Survey, I would have liked more detail.
The book covers the book in the field and does it well. The only thing missing is a little more detail about each system. I don't know how it would fit, but it would have helped. However, the book is everything it claimed to be and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Automating with SIMATIC

Totally Integrated Automation is the concept by means of which SIMATIC controls machines, manufacturing systems and technical processes. Taking the example of the S7-300/400 programmable controller, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to the architecture and operation of a state-of-the-art automation system. It also gives an insight into configuration and parameter setting for the controller and the distributed I/O. Communication via network connections is explained, along with a description of the available scope for operator control and monitoring of a plant.

As the central automation tool, STEP 7 manages all relevant tasks and offers a choice of various text and graphics-oriented PLC programming languages and their respective different features are explained to the reader.

For this second edition, the contents of all sections of the book have been revised and updated, the latest version of the STAEP 7 basic software is described.

The book is ideal for those who have no extensive prior knowledge of programmable controllers and wish for an uncomplicated introduction to this subject. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gives a good overall picture of Simatic S7 200/300/400
A book that gives a good overall picture of the Siemens Simatic S7 200/300/400. It may help engineers and technicians who are working with this product to understand many other configurations of Siemens automation products. Not a book if you are only interested in how to program S7 PLC. ... Read more

Book Description

* Details the PICmicro microcontroller
* Covers designing the robot system, software development, and advanced programming
* Explains microcontroller connections ... Read more

Reviews (6)

On my SEcond Copy
The first two books in the "Robot DNA" series are rehashes of well worn subjects but Predko's book is a really good treatment on a subject that hasn't been looked at before in any kind of depth: how the robot controller itself is programmed and interfaced with sensors and motors. After working through the book, you will be able to design code that will work with (and integrate!) light sensors, mechanical whiskers, IR object sensors, RC servos, DC motors and more. Each interface is very well explained and Predko goes into depth into integrating multiple functions together (even going so far as showing how to make some simple robots for testing out ideas).

Being a hobbyist, what I really appreciated was how Proedko wrote his examples in common "C" and then provided actual example programs using A FREE C COMPILER instead of a product that could cost hundreds of dollars (or more). The examples are written for a cheap PIC microcontroller and Predko shows how you can get started for just a few bucks.

Again, nicely done and somethign different for the series instead of the McCombs, Owings and Clark offerings which just rehashes information that is found in many other books.

Ray Blome

Great book
This book has been a real help with my PIC based robot project. While I had microcontroller background, I had no experience with PIC's. The books focus is small robots using the PIC16F627 programmed in C. There are no assembly code examples, but the C code is well written and serves as a good model for translation to assembly. I have found that much of the content is scalable to my larger project (and a different PIC processor). There is no substitute for data sheets and app notes for essential knowledge about the PIC family, but this book provides a valuable jump start. I particularly found the discussion of software development tools (for PIC) to be useful. There are lots of useful PIC interface examples in chapter 4 (Microcontroller Connections). I liked the appendices (a little bit of everything) and found few errors in the book - an important feature for me. If I find too many technical errors, I will toss an otherwise useful book (good editing, whoever did it). I also found the author to be helpful in answering questions via email. Thanks, Myke.

Love the projects
this book is very helpful and easy to understand

Great book!
This book is well written with lots of practical projects. The included software is a real bonus and gets you programming PICs right away. Another excellent book by Predko!!

Great book; Great example~!
Excellent book, I would dare say that this is certainly better than his previous books on Pic. As bculver13 says he focuses mainly on the PIC16F627/84. The only issue that I have with this book is the fact that most example code are in C language instead of Basic. I am impress with the info in the book, its basically everything you can possibly find about Pic on the net. What's better is that he actually EXPLAINS it~!! making my life a whole lot easier... ... Read more

Book Description

This practical and clearly written introduction provides both fundamental and cutting-edge coverage on programmable logic controllers; today a billion dollar industry. It combines comprehensive, accessible coverage with a wealth of industry examples that make intangible concepts come to life—offering users a broad-based foundation that will serve them well on the job.The volume examines every aspect of controller usage in an easy-to-understand, jargon-free narrative. Beginning with a basic layout the book goes right into programming techniques, it progresses through fundamental, intermediate, and advanced functions—and concludes with chapters on related topics. Applications are discussed for each PLC function, and vast arrays of examples and problems help users achieve an understanding of PLCs, and the experience needed to use them.For programmers and others working with PLCs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Teach Yourself to Program a PLC
I have taught courses in Computer Integrated Manufacturing and CNC Programming, and wanted to pick up PLC Programming as well.To do so, I needed a book I could teach myself from.When I looked at what Prentice - Hall had to offer, the boatload of examples and end of chapter problems drew me to this text.Learning to program from this text was a struggle until CH. 6, where the authors compare PLC programming to Digital Logic Gates.The light suddenly turned on.If you have relay logic or digital logic experience, you can learn to program PLC's pretty easily.If you don't have that background, I believe you can still learn to program from the text.The authors have a clear voice and excellent examples.You'll just have to work harder at it, and the light may not come on until you're deep into the book.The biggest hurdle seems to be learning to work with the ladder diagrams.That's just a matter of practice.But there's where my complaint comes with the book.I had expected that all of those end of chapter examples would give me lots of practice.What you don't get from this book are the answers unless you have the instructors manual (which unfortunately I didn't ask Prentice Hall for).Unless you're sitting in a classroom where you receive feedback from an instructor, think twice before buying this text.If they provide answers to every other exercise in the fifth edition, it would be a good text to teach yourself from.

The Best PLC Book Around
I have used Webb three times as the text for my PLC course.Each time, the book provided the perfect complement to our Allen-Bradley PLC lab.The writing is clear and easy to understand.The examples are well-thought-out and provide valuable insight into the material.

I have used twoother PLC texts, both of which take a generic approach and try to coverEVERY BRAND of PLC on the market.In both cases, students found thisapproach overwhelming, unclear and confusing.I prefer a text like Webbthat chooses one PLC to focus on and explores it thoroughly.

Book lacks answers to all chapter end excercises
This is an interesting and informative book. The book seems to cover the topic well. Unfortunately, there is not enough worked out examples to really grasp the subject well. There are no answers to the many excercisesthat are listed at the end of the chapters. There is an instructor manualavailable from the author. Unfortunately, The instructor manual is notavailabe to anyone except an instructor. The average technician thatpurchases this book to further their education on the subject will not haveenough examples to learn much. I am an experienced electronic technician bytrade. I am very familiar with PL Controllers and hoped for moreapplication examples. I was very disappointed since the book seemedcomprehensive. Only the instructors will be able to learn much from thisbook. I really wanted that instructor manual to make the book usefull.Sorry, the book is not worth it without excercise answers. ... Read more

Book Description

A SCADA system gathers information, such as where a leak on a pipeline has occurred, transfers the information back to a central site, alerting the home station that the leak has occurred, carrying out necessary analysis and control, such as determining if the leak is critical, and displaying the information in a logical and organized fashion. SCADA systems can be relatively simple, such as one that monitors environmental conditions of a small office building, or incredibly complex, such as a system that monitors all the activity in a nuclear power plant or the activity of a municipal water system.

· An engineer's introduction to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and their application in monitoring and controlling equipment and industrial plant
· Essential reading for data acquisition and control professionals in plant engineering, manufacturing, telecommunications, water and waste control, energy, oil and gas refining and transportation
· Provides the knowledge to analyse, specify and debug SCADA systems, covering the fundamentals of hardware, software and the communications systems that connect SCADA operator stations ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay but lacking
This is not bad for a basic overview of hoe SCADA shojuld be used and implemented. It seemed lacking to me since so much of the value in SCADA is in the interactions with the PLC's, RTU's and datbases. I felt this book was weak in that area.
I would have liked to see more application examples across industry and some innovative ways to use data bases to drive PLC systems - this is the true strength of a well designed SCADA system.

It could be better, but not bad for a starter book.

Pretty good book
I liked the book. Very informative, especially if you are familiar with some aspects of control systems, but not necessarily SCADA systems. Some of the stuff was a little geared for engineer types, but most of it was geared for the technical types. I would have liked to have seen more on the PLC's and RTU's, but they at least reviewed them pretty well. A LOT of information on communication and network systems. ... Read more

Book Description

This handy desktop reference gathers together into one easy-to-use volume the most popularimage processing algorithms. Designed to be used at the computer terminal,it features an illustrated, annotated dictionary format — with clear, concise definitions, examples, and C program code.Covers algorithms for adaptive filters, coding and compression, color image processing, histogram operations, image fundamentals, mensuration, morphological filters, nonlinear filters, segmentation, spatial filters, spatial frequency filters, storage formats, and transforms. Includes graphic oriented techniques such as warping, morphing, zooming, and dithering. Provides algorithms for image noise generation. MARKETS: For users and developers of image processing systems and programs. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Author's Comment
Potential buyers, please keep in mind that this book is for people that already know image processing theory or are enrolled in a course. We wrote this book for the student engineer to rapidly be able to code algorithms. They are very simply written, more so for understanding and ease of typing (most are one small page) than for algorithmic elegance or efficiency. Note that the book is very small and has a soft leatherette cover--this is so it fits comfortably in your back pocket and can be pulled out as needed. There is no CD, type the code in yourself and learn as you go. Some things are done for a reason, enjoy!

Utter Disappointment
Total absence of theory. Algorithms very poorly documented. However, it does open the eyes to the available algorithms in image processing. If you want to know how they really work, look elsewhere. At > $30, this book is an utter dissaapointment. At $3., it would have earned 4 stars. The least the authors could do is publish a CD to go along.

It's easy to read.
It intruduced broad terms of image processing tech. It's practical and easy to understand. It might only take you a couple of days to finish reading it.

VERY USEFUL - shows signs of age, mediocre code
Very useful book. It provides *many* useful algorithms. The book is tiny, 3x5x1 so pound for pound it is a great (and portable!) book.

Some issues however detract from a 5 star rating:

a) The code examples are lame (lots of single letter variables) and poor C idioms, and some silly extra calculations, like counting pixels one at time in a loop when a single multiply would yield the same result.

b)The book feels old even though it was written in 1993. It has a codec for MacPaint files. If this doesn't ring a bell to you, MacPaint was written circa 1985 and it supports two bit images only. Most algorithms are tweaked for the B/W and/or grayscale versions so the reader will have to interpolate/derive her own color versions

C) The descriptions of the algorithms are suboptimal, but heck it is still orders of magnitude more useful than one of the fat texts on the subject. Coupled with the code examples you can easily figure out any non-clear descriptions without having to wade through a giant tome full of pseudo code.

Would I get it again - absolutely. I even made a special place for it (the top of my monitor so it won't get lost).

Useful little book
This book presents many algorithms and their C implementations in alphabetical order. Many of the entries show the result of the algorithm's application on an image. A table of contents groups the algorithms into classes, such as image fundamentals (convolution, correlation), morphological filters, and nonlinear filters. The basic stuff is all there. Also included in the appendix are programs to read and write image data, which can be used in conjunction with the C code listed for each algorithm for a working solution.

The theory is not emphasized, so readers should look elsewhere for that information. However, considering its small size, this book offers a lot of very useful information. ... Read more

Book Description

SIMATIC S7 programmable controllers are used to implement industrial control systems for machines, manufacturing plants and industrial processes. The relevant open-loop and closed-loop control tasks can be solved using the STEP 7 programming software, which has been developed on the basis of STEP 5, with its various programming languages.
This book describes elements and applications of the text-oriented programming languages STL (statement list) and SCL (structured control language) for use with both SIMATIC S7-300 and SIMATIC S7-400. It is aimed at all users of SIMATIC S7 programmable controllers. First-time users will be introduced to the field of programmable logic control whereas advanced users will learn about specific applications of SIMATIC S7 programmable controllers.
The enclosed diskette contains many programming examples written in STL and SCL and archived within block libraries. The examples can be viewed, modified and tested using STEP 7. ... Read more

Book Description

Unsurpassed in its coverage, usability, and authority since first published in 1969, the three-volume Instrument Engineers' Handbook continues to be the premier reference for instrument engineers around the world. It helps users select and implement hundreds of measurement and control instruments and analytical devices and design the most cost-effective process control systems that optimize production and maximize safety.Volume 1: Process Measurement and Analysis now enters its fourth edition, fully updated and with increased emphasis on installation and maintenance consideration. Its coverage is now fully globalized with product descriptions from manufacturers around the world ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Instrument Engineers Handbook Vol1
Excellent book. I second Mr. Hills comments, although I have recently purchased the books based upon comments Mr.Liptak has made in the control mailing list. It is a very good investment. The book is easy to read/understand, covers the full spectrum of instrumentation,give relative costs and companies manufacturing the items. It is a good first book to turn to, and will save me much research time. I wish I would have known about it earlier.

Excellent book for the advanced field technician.
I have used this book for years and it has never failed to provide the information necessary to troubleshoot and repair problems with measurement systems. Liptak does a wonderful job presenting measurement theory and the principles of operation of various measurement strategies. The most helpful information Liptak includes is the discussion of the limitation of various measurement devices. If you are responsible for the maintenance of a wide variety of instruments and you desire to know how those instruments work, this book is worth every penny. ... Read more

Book Description

The difficulties inherent in assessing the accuracy of large-area spatial data sets, their subsequent analysis by GIS, and their importance to landscape characterization make the development of methods for robust accuracy assessment a critical challenge. In December 2002, the U.S. EPA sponsored a symposium focused on evaluating the scienctific elements relevant to performaning of accuracy assessments for remote sensing derived data sets and GIS data analysis and integrated products. The result is this peer-reviewed text from an international group of scientists representing federal, state and local governments, academia, and non-governmental organizations. ... Read more

Book Description

Uses case studies to examine the various applications of each type of geographic information.
* Considers geographic information as a technical problem, an empowering application, a pure science endeavor, an academic pursuit and a social necessity.
* Provides a wide range of examples and applications to help readers understand technical discussions. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An excellent second book for learning GIS
OK, so you've figured out how to drive the software and you've learnt the basic operations. Now, what does it all mean? This book is a great attempt to answer that question.
Nick Chrisman has drawn on his wealth of GIS experience to go beyond the basics. Don't expect to learn them here, you'll have to do that elsewhere. But when it gets down to just what it means, this is the place to be.
If you want GIS to work in a decision-making environment (which is 100% of its real applications, after all), learn from this book. We have used it as the second GIS text at The Ohio State University's Geodetic Science graduate program, and the students have appreciated its approach and content.
BTW, get the second edition (2002), noted here as 'Wie Exploring GIS' for some reason.

Outstanding high-level overview
I am an experienced GIS professional and this book is one of my favorites in my library. It is the best single source for understanding the scientific and technological context of GIS. This book has changed the way I think about GIS.

The comment from the reader from Hong Kong is completely off-target. Did this person really read this book?

A pathetic attempt to cover the subject.
The author ought to stick to romance novels.

Excellent overview of Geographic Information Systems
Nick Chrisman, a legend in the field of geographic information systems, provides a refreshing perspective on GIS. I recommend this book to anyone involved in the field, particularly to those planning on teaching GIS. He places GIS in a societal context that is becoming increasing important as this technology becomes mainstream ... Read more

Book Description

Since the first edition of Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach was published in 2002, GRASS has undergone major improvements. This second edition includes numerous updates related to the new development; its text is based on the GRASS 5.3 version from December 2003. Besides changes related to GRASS 5.3 enhancements, the introductory chapters have been re-organized, providing more extensive information on import of external data. Most of the improvements in technical accuracy and clarity were based on valuable feedback from readers.

Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach, Second Edition, provides updated information about the use of GRASS, including geospatial modeling with raster, vector and site data, image processing, visualization, and coupling with other open source tools for geostatistical analysis and web applications. A brief introduction to programming within GRASS encourages new development. The sample data set used throughout the book has been updated and is available on the GRASS web site. This book also includes links to sites where the GRASS software and on-line reference manuals can be downloaded and additional applications can be viewed.

Book Description

BUILD A POWERFUL SUMO-BOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND METAL-AGAINST-METAL COMPETITION!

This NEXT GENERATION robot from McGraw-Hill features:
* The power of the Parallax BASIC Stamp 2 controller
* A tracked drive for maneuverability over all types of terrain
* "Flipping ability" to put the competition on its back
* A steel frame that encourages customization
* Mechanical features designed to withstand the shock of combat
* AA battery powered for longer operation

MORE POWER!MORE SOPHISTICATION!MORE FUN!

Here's a fun and affordable way for hobbyists to take their robot building skills to the next level and if they wish, be part of the hottest new craze in amateur robotics: Sumo competition.

Great for ages 14+, the kit comes complete with:
* Pre-assembled PCB
* Multi-function, duel channel remote control
* Robot hardware including collision-sensing infra-red LED and receivers
* CD-ROM with programming instructions and file chapters of robot building tips and tricks
* A built-in Parallax BASIC Stamp 2 and prototyping area allowing hobbyists to create their own robot application without having to purchase additional Parallax products

Powered by four AA batteries (not included) and featuring a built-in infra-red remote control, the Sumo-Bot is pre-programmed with the following behavior "built in" to jumpstart custom applications.

* Random Movement--The robot moves about randomly, reversing direction when an obstacle is in its way
* Photovore--Seeks out light
* Photophobe--Avoids light
* Maze Solver--Follows a wall

Developed by the creators of the popular BUILD YOUR OWN ROBOT KIT. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great bot!!!!
This is a great bot. I recommend it for everyone. Easy to put together and lots of fun.

Great Bot
A great, fun, and easy bot to build. Good customer service.

I would recommend it for everyone.

The Best Hobby Robot You Can Buy!
I have had the original build your own robot kit for a year now and I thought it was pretty good. The concept and price was great, but there were a few rough edges in the original execution. The original wheels [were poor] (and for some reason say "FORD" on them) and it got pretty expensive buying the BS2 to go with it. Using an "acorn nut" as a front "caster" was pretty innovative, unfortunately it didn't work that well on rough surfaces.

The good points about the robot were the remote control and how easily a BS2 could be added to the robot so that I could write my own programs and try them out. Even with the [poor] wheels and "caster" it was probably the best experimenter's robot out there. The information on the CD-ROM was great, although I wish it was available on paper (costs a lot to print out all the information).

Myke seemed to have learned from the first robot and the Sumo Bot is fantastic. It now has a very solid sheet metal chassis (with a front scoop), it runs by 4 "AA" batteries and has a caterpiller bulldozer like track that allows it to run over just about any surface. The robot is really built like a bulldozer, it will last a long time.

Best of all, the optional pieces from the original kit, the BS2 and AppMod are built into the robot. All you have to do is put the CD-ROM into your PC, download the programs and BS2 programming software, conenct the robot to the PC using a serial cable and you can start writing your own programs or adding your own hardware.

This review probably reads like a sales pitch, but I've had my Sumo Bot for a week now and I LOVE IT! It's very robust, easy to use and program and best of all, it's fun.

Brad

The best hobby robot out there!
I bought the first robot for my teenage nephew and he LOVED it (after being highly disappointed with others that are out there), so I have been super anxious to get him this robot. He loves this one even more--he has been going through all of the robot building tips and tricks on the CD-ROM and learning a lot more about robotics. He especially likes the tracks on this one and how the robot can maneuver over more stuff. He's looking forward to his friends (or maybe uncles) getting this robot for Christmas so they can start some Sumo competitions! HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Closely follows an actual structural determination. After some introductory material on the nature of x-rays, the diffraction process, and the internal geometry of crystals, the selection and preparation of a crystal are considered. Techniques of measuring raw x-ray data are covered, plus their reduction into a useable form. The second part discusses both traditional and novel methods of solving the ``phase'' problem, the principal difficulty in x-ray structure determination. The third part considers how to extract the most information from the data and how to evaluate its reliability. Finally, there is a discussion of sources of error in practice and interpretation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

introduction to the basics, at least in theory
This book is an excellent excellent introction to the basic physics and math of x-ray crystallography. This was used as the text in an undergrad class I took on protein crystallography and it was perfect for that purpose. The main drawback of this book is that it is really concentrated on small molecule structure determination, and doesn't address the problems or specific techniques used for large protein structures. So probably the best way to use this book would be in conjuction with a more protein-specific book. But for the raw fundamentals of symmetry and diffraction, I don't think you can beat stout & jensen. ... Read more

Book Description

The aim of this book is to serve as a graduate text and reference in time series analysis and signal processing, two closely related subjects that are the concern of a wide range of disciplines, such as statistics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and physics.
The book provides a CD-ROM containing codes in PASCAL and C for the computer procedures printed in the book. It also furnishes a complete program devoted to the statistical analysis of time series, which will be attractive to a wide range of academics working in diverse mathematical disciplines. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Reference Book for Engineers & Statisticians
I have been using this book for several months now and its a great reference book for the applied statistician and engineer. I got this book hoping to get pseudo-code for standard time-series analysis, fourier transforms, etc. In addition to the algorithms, I was extremely impressed by the clear explanations of difficult mathematical concept and descriptions of the numerical methods used. I'm now using this as a text to educate myself on several topics !

I think the author has done a great service to the community by writing this excellent book. If you're the kind of person who is interested in understanding the math behind the methods as well as in practical numerical implementation, this book is for you ! My only suggestion is that in the next edition, the author should also consider providing Matlab m-files for the algorithms.

Broad Mathematical Background
I found this book to be mainly interesting for those researchers or practicioners who find themselves diving into the river of time series analysis and try to survive not having a very strong mathematical background. This book should allow them to apply the most classic mathematical tools such as time-domain and spectral-domain techniques to their time series problems (provided they are "relatively non-complex") and also to gain confidence in the use of the mathematical apparatus when doing their research or writing about the subject of time-series analysis.

For more complex situations, however, the methods presented may become weak and other scenarios such as neural, fuzzy or "computational intelligence" in general should be more indicated. This book does not deal with those subjects, but I appreciated the rather clear way it exposes the main mathematical aids for the comprehension and analysis of time series data.

Also remarkable are the extense bibliographical references and the CD-ROM containing code routines in C and Pascal for most of the methods explained, along with libraries, a means of doing queries to the bibliography and the .PDF version of the book itself, with a couple Appendixes added.

Good for the starters in time-series analysis
Well written, this book would be good for the practitioners with engineering background and without rigorous mathematics. The coverage is rather conventional or classical in the sense that intelligent appoaches are not touched. ... Read more

Book Description

When the pressure is on to root out an elusive software or hardware glitch, what's needed is a cool head courtesy of a set of rulesguaranteed to work on any system, in any circumstance. Written in a frank but engaging style, Debugging provides simple, foolproof principlesguaranteed to help find any bug quickly. This book makes those shelves of application-specific debugging books (on C++, Perl, Java, etc.) obsolete. Itchanges the way readers think about debugging, making those pesky problems suddenly much easier to find and fix.

Illustrating the rules with real-life bug-detection war stories, the book shows readers how to:

* Understand the system: how perceiving the "roadmap" can hasten your journey * Quit thinking and look: when hands-on investigation can't be avoided * Isolate critical factors: why changing one element at a time can be an essential tool * Keep an audit trail: how keeping a record of the debugging process can win the day ... Read more

Reviews (6)

very useful and easy-to-read
This book is very useful for beginners and intermediate programmers. "Debugging" is full of practical advice on debugging in general. It is not tied to any particular programming language.

The book describes 9 main debugging "rules", and many smaller "sub-rules". The rules (such as "Make it fail" or "Quit thinking and look") and sub-rules (such as "Start from a known state" or "Build instrumentation in") are derived from common sense and years of experience. Many people know most of the rules, but perhaps do not systematically follow them. "Debugging" clarifies and makes a systematic review of the debugging practices, with examples taken from real life, simplified to remove the jargon.

The book is quite funny and makes enjoyable reading. I am looking forward to more: perhaps we can see more stories in the next edition, or in a companion volume, or on the debugging rules web site.

0101!001010101!
An excellent book of reference for novice to medium level user.
Mr. Agans' book presents real life experiences, or as he calls them war stories and humor filled comment/anecdotes.

I find myself chuckling and giggling along while reading this
book, some of what he said brought back my own memories while
working/debugging on my own software bug(s), or other people's
bug(s) that I have somehow 'inherited' because they left the
company, or are too busy on other projects to debug their own

code. I like the metaphors that he uses to explain ideas or
concepts that seems a bit too complicated to understand.

Mr. Agans made this very clear in the beginning of his book;
the book is not a cover-it-all book, it is a general concept
book on how to isolate, find, and debug something that has gone
wrong. The principles presented by Mr. Agans can be applied to
situations covering everyday life. He presented examples of well
pump and light bulb, etc...

More experienced software/hardware engineers or more experienced
problem solvers who read this book might find it covering bases
that they already know, but the humor makes it worth while.

Targeting Perfection
Debugging leads to quality products and competitive success. This book is the result of twenty years experience in troubleshooting hardware and software products. Agans documented his nine rules for debugging, and explains each one in a chapter. You can read this to get ideas for solving problems in a systematic way.

His first rule is "understand the system", another way to say "don't assume" or "read the manual". [His comments on "a politician" tells me he should follow rule #1 (p.18).] Sometimes the constraints of time and money will not let you capture enough information; management will set the rules and schedules.

The "quit thinking and look" rule says that facts should drive theories (like in criminal detection). Making a list of probable causes can be a guide to research. Page 54 tells of a bug in "one small, simple software routine". Is code inspection passe? Page 65 tells of a light not going on. Based on MTBF, its more likely the light bulb than the switch. But don't overlook the possibility of the connection at the receptacle.

"Divide and Conquer" would be better phrased as "narrowing the search" for a faulty component in a planned, logical manner. Changing one thing at a time advises against trial and error, or guessing at the solution. Keeping track of all changes allows narrowing the search, and any possible interaction with an earlier change.

"Check the Plug" suggests using a PRINT statement that works all the time, not just for a certain event. This is not practical advice in my experience! You should test the tool before using it for testing; recalibration is always good. "Get a Fresh View" is another way to restate the problem. When doing this you may suddenly realize what you've overlooked. Often someone has come across the same or similar problem. It can also be good politics to delegate responsibility.

Page 125 describes the classic "dirty gas filter" syndrome. Consider getting the gas lines blown out. A locking gas cap is one way to prevent this; don't overlook sabotage as a cause. "In the old system we knew how to crash it so they'd send us out on break." Chapter 11 recommends testing a fix by removing it to prove the change. This rules out any random differences; except when its obvious (p.128). Some problems do go away by itself. I once worked on a serially-reusable on-line program. After I made it reentrant (so it didn't modify the code) a lot of strange bugs just disappeared.

Chapter 13 gives a number of examples using the rules. The touchpad problem could have been avoided with either code inspection or programming standards. Or a better compiler? Chapter 14 tgells how the rules apply to a Help Desk. The last chapter suggests how to use this book at work or in school. But if your job resembles Dilbert's, bring your resume up to date (the tenth rule?).

Hard-won experience explained well
David Agans does a great job of explaining how to approach debugging as a science rather than an art. If you're a novice programmer, the information here will prove invaluable; discovering how to debug effectively on your own can take many years.

Experienced programmers may consider most of the rules to be obvious; however, those same programmers might be surprised to find how many of these obvious rules they neglect to follow. I've been debugging for more than 20 years, and still learnt some useful new tricks.

Peppered throughout the text are a large number of war stories from the author's own experience with embedded systems. As well as illustrating how to (and more commonly, how not to) approach a particular problem, these are all well written and often entertaining.

Some of my favourites: how wearing the wrong shirt to work caused a new video compression chip to crash; teenagers coming home from school subtly altering the behaviour of a video conferencing system; a vacuum cleaner that made the house lights flash on and off; a noisy read/write line that led a junior engineer to mistakenly redesign an entire co-processor memory circuit; and the self-test feature on an old Pong video game.

Although most examples are hardware related, the approach described can be applied to almost any problem; indeed, several of the examples used have nothing to do with computing.

This is not a large book, but it's well laid out, easy to follow, and doesn't talk down to the reader. It's also packed with enough meat to satisfy the hungriest of programmers. Highly recommended.

Debugging made easy
This book reads more like a novel than a how-to book. Every rule is well illustrated with "war stories" that are as entertaining as they are enlightening. A must read for anyone that chases bugs, no matter what their level of exptertise! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good material...
I recommend this book to all my students who are getting started in working with the AB SLC 500. This book will give you a great start if you are trying to learn about AB PLCs. I also recommend ... for ActiveX driver software to communicate with AB PLCs. The reason I did not rate it at five stars is because the book is a little pricey and it omits some of the more advanced ladder instructions.

Mr. Damase Bouchou (See more about me) from Canada
Here, we can find a lot examples, of basic Programmable Logical. But, no enough examples using advanced Programming instructions such as, PID, Shift Resister, Sequencer. Excellent book for the beginners.

programmable logical controllers
this book contain good valable notes on PLC's so i like to read more . ... Read more