Robots that have the physical and computing capacity to move by themselves pose many practical and theoretical design challenges. A robot’s designer must choose among many types of locomotion, sensors, power, sizes, and shapes. A designer must then integrate all of these elements in the robot’s software control systems, to ensure that the robot functions properly in its environment and does what the designer intended. This short book gives an excellent overview of the choices and challenges a robot designer faces.

The first two chapters introduce us to robotic locomotion. These chapters answer questions about choices between legs or wheels. These choices bring a surprisingly varied set of consequences in ranges and limits of maneuverability. These chapters also introduce feedback control.

The next chapter describes how a mobile robot senses its environment. Here, the authors describe the detection of motion, heading, external navigation aids, and obstacle positions using sound and visual sensors. The authors also present an overview of the mathematical model for sensor characteristics.

The last two chapters concentrate on integrating a robot’s locomotive method and sensor devices with its software systems. The authors describe methods that a robot uses to determine its position and navigate within its environment. Here, the authors introduce us to simple practical issues like dealing with sensor noise and inaccuracy. We also learn about sophisticated concepts like path planning.

This book is an introduction, so it does not cover any of its subjects deeply. Still, the authors make sure to include plenty of diagrams, some mathematical formulas, and clear descriptions of both. Each chapter follows a logical progression, building upon the subjects introduced in the preceding chapter.

A thorough bibliography points to material that is referenced in the book, and to extra material that goes deeper into the book’s subjects. The index is concise, but well thought out. A short index in this case is not a liability, but a consequence of the book’s conciseness and clear organization.