Reddit reviews JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology

Awesome!


Couple of resources for ya:

• Junkbots <-- excellent book on electronics basics and low level electronics hacking. I can't recommend this one enough.
  
• Arduino Starter Kit

For me, it was Mark Tilden's introductory book on BEAM robotics: Junkbots, Bugbots and Bots on Wheels.

I love this book. Go around picking up scrap electronics and build little robots. I built one from a dual deck tape player, an answering machine, and two nightlights.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0072226013/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Something you might consider is BEAM-style robots. A decent book I found a while ago discusses it in detail: JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology.

The idea is to basically just build robots out of random parts you can find around the house in old electronics, focusing on simplicity. Wikipedia Article

i recently did a project from this book http://www.amazon.com/JunkBots-Bugbots-Bots-Wheels-Technology/dp/0072226013
it was what i understand to be a simple solar motor. i can follow directions. but as far as understanding why it does what it does, i find myself clueless. i also found this website
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/
it seems to be pretty complete though, as im sure ive mentioned, im no expert.

http://www.amazon.com/JunkBots-Bugbots-Bots-Wheels-Technology/dp/0072226013
great book for simple projects with stuff you can pull out of old broken electronics