LEGO(r) Mindstormsa TM has already turned hundreds of thousands of people into active robotics hobbyists. Now, there's a complete, serious guide to building LEGO Mindstorms robots. LEGO Mindstorms insider Benjamin Erwin presents 16 highly-creative, start-to-finish projects -- all explained step-by-step in the book, and presented in full color on the accompanying CD-ROM, with accompanying movies. This is far more than a "cookbook": Erwin shares unparalleled insight into the critical thinking and programming skills behind successful robotic building, stressing the connections between LEGO engineering and real-world engineering. He focuses on practical construction and programming techniques, drawing upon his extensive experience to help robot-builders avoid the pitfalls that often frustrate them. Every chapter starts with "Inspirations" that help readers understand where the ideas for the robot came from, and ends with "Further Work" suggestions for improvements or modifications. From "Tickle Me LEGO" to "Flashlight Follower," "Animal Feeder" to "Bubble Machine," each project is supplemented with even more detailed, full-color instructions, movies, and other resources on CD-ROM -- including code built with RCX, NQC, ROBOLAB, and Visual Basic.