An introduction to robotics

This is an introduction for the amateur to the ideas and concepts, both theoretical and practical, of robotics. It is divided into two sections. The first covers how and why robots work and how they are controlled. The second discusses how to make a simple two-legged humanoid robot that can be programmed to walk. There are no complicated formulae or equations to grapple with or complicated circuit diagrams to decipher, and you do not have to be a machinist or a programmer. The robot can be built quickly on a workbench or even a kitchen table, with a minimum number of handtools, and all the parts are easily available.