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Sam - by  Jonathan Waldman (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Sam - by Jonathan Waldman (Paperback)

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About this item

Highlights

  • A true story of innovation that "reads like a movie" (Seth Godin), centered on a scrappy team of engineers--far from the Silicon Valley limelight--and their quest to revolutionize the traditional trade of masonry by building a robot that can lay bricks.
  • Author(s): Jonathan Waldman
  • 288 Pages
  • Technology, Robotics

Description



Book Synopsis



A true story of innovation that "reads like a movie" (Seth Godin), centered on a scrappy team of engineers--far from the Silicon Valley limelight--and their quest to revolutionize the traditional trade of masonry by building a robot that can lay bricks.

Humans have landed men on the moon, programmed cars to drive themselves, and put the knowledge of our entire civilization in your back pocket. But no one--from MIT nerds to Army Corps engineers--has ever built a robot that can lay bricks as well as a mason. Unlike the controlled conditions of a factory line, where robots are now ubiquitous, no two construction sites are alike, and a day's work involves countless variables--bricks that range in size and quality, temperamental mortar mixes, uneven terrain, fickle weather, and moody foremen.

Twenty-five years ago, on a challenging construction job in Syracuse, architect Nate Podkaminer had a vision of a future full of efficient, automated machines that freed bricklayers from the repetitive, toilsome burden of lifting, in bricks, the equivalent of a Ford truck every few days. Offhandedly, he mentioned the idea to his daughter's boyfriend, and after some inspired scheming, the architect and engineer--soon to be in-laws--cofounded a humble start-up called Construction Robotics. Working out of a small trailer, they recruited a boldly unconventional team of engineers to build the Semi-Automated Mason: SAM. In classic American tradition, a small, unlikely, and eccentric family-run start-up sought to reimagine the behemoth $1 trillion construction industry--the second biggest industry in America--in bootstrap fashion.

In the tradition of Tracy Kidder's The Soul of a New Machine, SAM unfolds as an engineering drama, full of trials and setbacks, heated showdowns between meticulous scientists and brash bricklayers (and their even more opinionated union), and hard-earned milestone achievements. Jonathan Waldman, acclaimed author of Rust, masterfully "reveals a world that surrounds us but mostly eludes our notice" (The Boston Globe).



Review Quotes




"Mr. Waldman follows all the drama like a fly on a brick wall, richly reporting scenes and conversations, many on job sites where both circuitry and civility break down. The book is reminiscent of a reality-TV show about a scrappy startup, complete with backstory segments as we learn the pasts and personalities of each new hire. . . . None of it is boring." -The Wall Street Journal
Dimensions (Overall): 9.3 Inches (H) x 6.0 Inches (W) x .8 Inches (D)
Weight: .5 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 288
Genre: Technology
Sub-Genre: Robotics
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Format: Paperback
Author: Jonathan Waldman
Language: English
Street Date: January 26, 2021
TCIN: 1010782965
UPC: 9781501140600
Item Number (DPCI): 247-33-7084
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.8 inches length x 6 inches width x 9.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.5 pounds
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Q: Who is the author of this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The author of the book is Jonathan Waldman, known for his work in technology and innovation.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: What genre does this book fall under?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book falls under the genre of technology, specifically the sub-genre of robotics.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: How does the book describe the construction industry?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: It describes the construction industry as a massive, $1 trillion sector facing challenges in automation and bricklaying.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: What is the main subject of the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book focuses on a team of engineers developing a robot to automate bricklaying in masonry.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: What makes this engineering story unique?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: This story is unique due to its real-life setting and the unconventional team attempting to innovate within a traditional industry.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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