Books I like

In defence of the book

Books are awesome! While you can  probably find everything you need on the internet, it can be well hidden, here today and gone (or different) tomorrow, sketchy or even plain wrong.  That’s why people write (and read) books! The job of a scholarly book is to explain things from start to finish in a consistent manner – it’s all about the clear and logical development of the ideas and the connections between ideas. Of course the author’s idea of clear and logical mightn’t match yours, but that perhaps says more about the author’s inability to explain than it does your ability to understand. The good news is that there are lots of good books to choose from. Have a browse and choose the one where the author’s brain seems to be some kind of match for  yours.

Books have had a good run.  We’ve had clay tablets for millennia (earliest known from 3500BCE) and Gutenberg pushed things along massively in 1450. Sadly, books might be on the path to extinction

Here are some books that I like and use on various topics related to robotics, vision, biology and the social impact of robotic.  Most of these are on my own bookshelf (or in my Kindle), and many are written by people I know. Click  a link to take you to Amazon to browse the details and reviews.

Viva le book!

Everything

Springer Handbook of RoboticsBruno Siciliano, Oussama Khatib

This book covers everything about robotics with very readable chapters written by experts in their fields.  You probably don’t need to buy one, but make friends with somebody who has one.

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern ApproachStuart Russell, Peter Norvig

A comprehensive book on the fundamentals of AI, it’s a fast moving field and this classic has been recently updated.

Robot manipulator arms

Robotics: Modelling, Planning and ControlBruno Siciliano, Lorenzo Sciavicco, Luigi Villani et al.

A classical robotics text with comprehensive coverage of robot manipulator arm kinematics, dynamics and control, using 3D vectors and homogeneous transformations.

Robot Modeling and ControlMark W. Spong

A classical robotics text covering robot manipulator arm kinematics, dynamics and control, using 3D vectors and homogeneous transformations, plus a bit of path planning and computer vision.

Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and ControlKevin M. Lynch, Frank C. Park

A modern robotics text with comprehensive coverage of robot manipulator arm kinematics, dynamics and control, using a Lie group and algebra approach.  Mathematically advanced but definitely worth persevering with.

Mobile robots

Introduction to Autonomous Mobile RobotsRoland Siegwart, Illah R. Nourbakhsh, Davide Scaramuzza

This book covers the kinematics of wheeled vehicles in great detail, as well as legged and aerial vehicles. It also has chapters on  path planning, state estimation, perception and control.

Mobile Robotics: Mathematics, Models, and MethodsAlonzo Kelly

This book has deep coverage of topics including path planning, state estimation, perception and control.

Computational Principles of Mobile RoboticsGregory Dudek, Michael Jenkin

Other good books

Flying robots

Small Unmanned Aircraft: Theory and PracticeRandal W. Beard, Timothy W. McLainAutonomous Flying Robots: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Micro Aerial VehiclesKenzo Nonami, Farid Kendoul, Satoshi Suzuki et al.

Helicopter Aerodynamics Volume IRay Prouty

THE reference book for rotorcraft, the formulation is standard for aeronautical engineering but a little unfamiliar to roboticist’s way of formulating dynamics

Helicopter Performance, Stability, and ControlRaymond W. ProutyIdentification Modeling and Characteristics of Miniature RotorcraftBernard Mettler

Other books on helicopter control

Navigation theory

Probabilistic RoboticsSebastian Thrun, Wolfram Burgard, Dieter Fox

THE reference book for probabilistic robots.  Don’t be intimidated by the thickness of the book, logically developed and readable

Estimation with Applications to Tracking and Navigation: Theory Algorithms and SoftwareYaakov Bar-Shalom, X. Rong Li, Thiagalingam KirubarajanStochastic Processes and Filtering TheoryAndrew H. Jazwinski

Some of the underlying theory about stochastic filtering

Principles of GNSS, Inertial, and Multisensor Integrated Navigation SystemsPaul D. Groves

GPS is an important sensor for outdoor mobile robots and these books provide insight into how it works

Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen: 13th editionMary Blewitt

A slender volume that clearly explains how to work out where you using the stars and a sextant

Underwater robots

Underwater RobotsGianluca Antonelli

Computer vision

Multiple View Geometry in Computer VisionRichard Hartley, Andrew ZissermanComputer VisionSimon J. D. PrincePattern Recognition and Machine LearningChristopher M. BishopColor in Computer Vision: Fundamentals and ApplicationsTheo Gevers, Arjan Gijsenij, Joost van de Weijer et al.

Computer Vision: Algorithms and ApplicationsRichard Szeliski

The handbook or encyclopaedia of classical computer vision techniques, predates the deep learning revolution.

Digital Video and HD: Algorithms and InterfacesCharles PoyntonFeature Extraction and Image Processing for Computer VisionMark Nixon

Practical details of image and video information presented in an intuitive way.

Biology of vision

The EyeSimon IngsVision and Brain: How We Perceive the WorldJames V. Stone

I am still amazed at how well our eye and brain functions, here are some insights into what is going on.

Animal EyesMichael F. Land, Dan-Eric Nilsson

Discusses how the eyes of animals have evolved to fit their particular ecological niche, trading off light levels, size, field of view, resolution etc.

In the Blink of an Eye: How Vision Kick-Started the Big Bang of EvolutionAndrew Parker

Proposes an interesting theory about how the mutation that led to vision might have dramatically spurred the development of life on Earth

Seeing Through IllusionsRichard Gregory

Most of us delight in optical illusions. This book takes a neuropsychological approach to what visual illusions can tell us about how our brains perceive the world.

Robots, jobs, society, the future

The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant TechnologiesErik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfeeThe Lights in the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating Technology and the Economy of the FutureMartin FordRise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless FutureMartin Ford

Architects of Intelligence: The truth about AI from the people building itMartin FordSuperintelligence: Paths, Dangers, StrategiesNick BostromBeyond AI: Creating the Conscience of the MachineJ. Storrs Hall

AI and robotics is incredibly topical.  These books are old, from before LLMs were a thing, but the principles still apply.

Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous RobotsRonald ArkinWired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st CenturyP. W. SingerThe Tactical Drone: Military Use of Commercial Air Vehicles – Observe / Recce / Document / AttackChristian Väth, Markus Reisner, Spartanat

Robots and warfare, also very topical given what’s happening in Ukraine.

Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot RelationshipsDavid LevyTurned On: Science, Sex and RobotsKate Devlin

The future of human/robot relationships

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The links go to Amazon in Australia or the USA (where I’m an Associate), or to your country’s own Amazon store.