About the Book

Although advanced technologies are the cornerstone of modern life, few people understand how such technologies as robotics or nuclear science actually work. Fewer still realize how--and how dramatically--technology influences our society and culture. Robotics is a reference guide that provides nonspecialists with the most up-to-date information on seminal developments in the technology of robotics, as well as covering the social, political, and technical impacts of those developments on everyday life, both now and in the future.

Included in Robotics are chapters on:

• Profiles of Robot Technology Pioneers, Visionaries, and Advocates.
• How robot technology works.
• Impact of Robotics on broader society.
• Controversial issues involving robotic technology.
• The future of robotic technology. The volume includes a chronology of the technology, a glossary, organizations involved in robotics, and a thorough list of sources for further research.

Book Synopsis

Although advanced technologies are the cornerstone of modern life, few people understand how such technologies as robotics or nuclear science actually work. Fewer still realize how--and how dramatically--technology influences our society and culture. Robotics is a reference guide that provides nonspecialists with the most up-to-date information on seminal developments in the technology of robotics, as well as covering the social, political, and technical impacts of those developments on everyday life, both now and in the future.

Review Quotes

"Aimed toward a younger audience, Angelo's book tries to cover events and relevant concepts in the automation efforts of humans from prehistory until today, and to investigate possible futures and concerns of a mechanized society....[u]se this book as kick-off reading and a resource for further exploration of the machine. The book contains an elaborate glossary of terms used in robot technology, and lists relevant associations, demonstration sites (including many science centers in the States), and other sources of information....General readers; lower-division undergraduates; two-year technical program students." --Choice

"[A]nyone with a modicum of interest in the study of robotics would probably benefit from reading this detailed guide. It is a comprehensive, stand-alone introduction to robot technology...." --SB&F

About the Author

Joseph A. Angelo, Jr., a retired U.S. Air Force officer (lieutenant colonel), is currently a consulting futurist and technical writer. He has a PhD in nuclear engineering from the University of Arizona and served as a nuclear research officer in the U.S. Air Force (1967-1987) in a variety of scientific positions involving nuclear weapons development and nuclear treaty monitoring. He is also an adjunct professor in the College of Engineering at Florida Tech, specializing in nuclear radiation protection and waste management. Dr. Angelo is the author of 15 other technical books, including Space Technology and Nuclear Technology.