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Home > Newsletter / Publications

Textbook: Robotics

Introduction

The definitive textbook on robotic engineering, “Robotics,” was published in September 2011. The book was planned by the Publishing Committee of the Robotics and Mechatronics Division of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME), and it was written over the course of five years by more than 20 leaders in the field of robotics research. The book is a textbook on robotic engineering written for third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in mechanical engineering, and was compiled in conformance to the textbook series published by the JSME. The objective of this textbook is to teach the basics of robot design, construction, and motion by fully engaging the knowledge gained through studies of mechanical engineering.

One characteristic of the textbook is its inexpensive price tag for a technical book, with a list price of 1,995 yen (member price is 1,700 yen). The essence of robotic engineering has been concentrated into 194 pages (A4 size). The other characteristic of the book is that topics are introduced in the reverse sequence from standard textbooks. In other words, the completed robot is introduced first; then, by taking the robot apart, the book demonstrates the robot’s construction, actuation, and characteristics.

The textbook introduces the main components that constitute the representative robot mechanisms such as its motion and operations, and it explains the theory and thought processes involved in realizing various functionalities. After understanding the overall functionality of a robot, the technical aspects of its components, including sensors, actuators, control, and motion planning, are explained. Further, toward the end of the book, students learn how robots have been planned, designed, and productized using example case studies.

In other words, the purpose of the textbook is not to scientifically explain a robot as a system and have students understand it. The aim of the textbook is for students to acquire the thinking skills required to realize a given functionality. When confronted with a problem, the students should be able to use the fundamental knowledge gained from the textbook to design, build, and structure robots or mechatronic systems to solve the problem, thereby realizing services for end users.

In addition, supplementary educational materials for instructors who adopt this textbook for their courses will also be published before the end of 2012.

I encourage everyone who teaches or is learning robotic engineering to consider using “Robotics,” a robotic engineering textbook that has been thoroughly thought through by leading robotics engineers representing the Japan Society for Mechanical Engineers.

Publication information and how to purchase

Please refer to the books/publications section of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers website.

Answers to practice questions

For lecturers who plan to use this textbook for lectures at universities and other institutions, the answers to the practice questions at the end of each chapter are available. Refer to here for further details.

Last Update: 2012/08/13
Published by: JSME Robotics and Mechatronics Division Publicity Committee