My little brother is interested in robotics, but I know nothing about the electrical engineering side of it. I'd like to learn some and pass the knowledge on to him. Can anyone suggest a good book for beginners with zero knowledge?

5/12/2013 8:55:23 PM

There is a lot good bit of mathematically knowledge required. There is a reason ECE takes 5 years for most people. Is he seriously interested or does he just like robots. Robotics is also a dick load of work. What is his knowledge level in say programming?

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

5/12/2013 9:09:59 PM

Yeah, in my view, if you want to get beyond basic circuits--series, parallel, Ohm's Law/power equation type stuff, what you're saying is "Can anyone point me towards a good basic book on surgery? My little brother thought it was cool when they dissected frogs in science class, and I'd like to teach him more."

[Edited on May 12, 2013 at 9:13 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2013 9:13:09 PM

Get him an arduino robotics kit. Should have enough stuff to give him the basics.

This is a great "toy" that should give him a grasp of the basics too: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3814337

5/12/2013 9:14:01 PM

He's thirteen, so minimal. He got this robotic bug he had to put together for Christmas. He soldered all the pieces in but something is not working and none of us know how to troubleshoot the board.

He likes building, I'd like to cultivate that.

My math and programming skills are top notch. I can handle it and ease him into it. If he abandons it, that's fine. I've always wanted an excuse to pick it up myself.

[Edited on May 12, 2013 at 9:16 PM. Reason : the bug kut has an electrical schematic i know nothing about id like to learn to understand it]

I'm not looking for a fuckin pamphlet, I suspect what I want is a text book. I don't need reasons its hard I want a suggestion for good learning material.

[Edited on May 12, 2013 at 9:18 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2013 9:16:06 PM

It would've made more sense if you named this thread "Robotics for a 13 year old" instead of "Electrical Engineering book for a beginner" seeing as this is a college forum haha. In that case I really don't know but I'd honestly suggest giving him projects that he can work on rather than a text book. I'm sure there's probably kits and stuff that could be cool on some DIY forum. Other than that I don't really have anything to add. Motors r cool doe

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

5/12/2013 10:03:19 PM

considering that my mechatronics classes were just a glorifified lab for applied calculus, I wouldn't try to dump a 13 year old into that. Get him to learn basic electrical theory first, then encourage him to learn to program in C so that he'll understand how to program microcontrollers later.

5/12/2013 10:38:23 PM

^^^ for a 13 year old that radishack thing I posted has a book of a bunch of different projects and explains the principles. Troubleshooting a problem requires a good base knowledge, if his robot didn't come with a manual.

The related items there (like the ep130) come with books and are good too. With schematics and stuff. They sell them in the stores too, they might let you open one up and look inside.

[Edited on May 12, 2013 at 10:48 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2013 10:43:16 PM

Quote :

"There is a reason ECE takes 5 years for most people."

Same reason the University wide 4-year graduation rate is below 50%?

5/12/2013 11:08:29 PM

the circuit design class (not intro to circuits) where you have to design op-amps and solve for and design Wheatstone bridges and stuff taught me things that I still use on my for-fun projects all the time, despite being in a field where my only involvement with any of it is reviewing controls and P&ID drawings

5/12/2013 11:23:43 PM

The book is FOR ME. I am 26. I have a degree in comp sci. I can do calculus.

I'll look into getting the electronics kit for him to encourage his continuing interest, but I want to learn some stuff so I can help the kid out as he has questions. I don't want to learn the basics on a kit for teenagers, I want to learn the science.

For god's sake, recommend me a book please.

5/12/2013 11:31:55 PM

If you have no electronics experience, I recommend the breadboard based kit I linked to first.

Starting with a text book will not help you.

If you're in the Raleigh area, I probably have an ece 211 book, which is the intro circuit class, I can give you if you want.

5/12/2013 11:35:45 PM

Quote :

""There is a reason ECE takes 5 years for most people.""

MONEY GRAB

5/13/2013 11:14:45 AM