Hardware

Programming the Microsoft Windows Driver Model Second Edition
Written for advanced C/C programmers, Walter Oney’s Programming the Microsoft Windows Driver Model is a technically astute and clearly presented guide to writing custom Windows 2000 device drivers. The author’s command of the details of the new Windows Driver Model (WDM) standard is what makes this book such a clear success. (Because the WDM is rich in kernel and system services, the trick is often knowing how to use what’s available rather than doing everything yourself.) The author presents a solid overview of the WDM architecture and breaks down the process of writing custom device drivers into manageable pieces, from the basics of loading device drivers to creating and processing I/O request packets. The book is very good at exposing kernel system calls, design principles, and programming techniques (such as managing synchronization and handling errors). Continue reading…

Apress Robot Building For Beginners

“I wrote this book because I love building robots. I want you to love building robots, too. It took me a while to learn about many of the tools and parts in amateur robotics. Perhaps by writing about my experiences, I can give you a head start.”—David Cook  Robot Building for Beginners, Second Edition is an update of David Cook’s best-selling Robot Building for Beginners. This book continues its aim at teenagers and adults who have an avid interest in science and dream of building household explorers. No formal engineering education is assumed.  The robot described and built in this book is battery powered and about the size of a lunchbox. It is autonomous. That is, it isn’t remote controlled.  You’ll begin with some tools of the trade, and then work your way through prototyping, robot bodybuilding, and eventually soldering your own circuit boards. By the book’s end, you will have a solid amateur base of understanding so that you can begin creating your own robots to vacuum your house or maybe even rule the world!
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Product Description
Scott Preston works as a technical architect for a large Columbus consulting firm where he resides with his lovely wife, Emily. Scott has over 15 years of software and electrical experience including positions with The U.S. Navy, Bank One, UUNET, and Covansys Inc., in addition to running his own robotics company, Preston Research LLC, where he gives robotic lectures in conjunction with COSI (Center of Science and Industry) and manufactures small Java-enabled robots called CubeBots®.
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Robotics Demystified
by Edwin Wise

Great introductory book into the exciting world of Robotics. This easy to read book explains all of the key concepts, in easy to understand language, with plenty of examples. The book covers basic mechanics, together with electronics and control theory. This book also explains basic programming and how to use this with your robot. Plenty of diagrams and ciruit information is included, with quizzes and tests along the way to check your progress.
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