How to build robots?

CONGRATS im out enjoy your toys, i was about offering you a copy of my source code but id rather to save it now

Guys, take it easy. We're getting topics locked that others can benefit from.

Don't drag your arguments too far and accept other people's points of view.

On the other hand, don't state your points of view like they are fact, as well. Especially not without having solid proof.

I would like to see how far this topic goes, because I can benefit from the information here. So don't get too emotional.

To all those who were bashing the Lego (specifically the NXT 2.0 block) and calling it a "toy", please see this "toy" in action:
LEGO’s Used to Aid in Synthetic Bone Generation
Image-guided therapy and medical robotics tutorial using a LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot and 3D Slicer

Also, never ever diss an easy programming language, I know ladder logic which is strictly used for programmable logic controllers and are highly used in manufacturing high-end voltage or high-end current applications like hospital sterilizers or X-ray machines (I tend to use examples form the medical field because this is where my expertise lies).

Anyway, back to the main subject of the thread, I think that in order to delve into the world of robotics, you should learn the basics of electronics. Try to familiarize yourself with the breadboard, basic electronic components like the resistor, capacitor, diode, transistor, etc..., sensors (basic at first like the photocell), and actuators (such as motors), and then try building some basic circuitry (I have a post that might help get you started). Try building some really basic robots like the beetle bot or other bots on the Instructables website and the following tech magazines: Servo Magazine (I see it already mentioned), EPE (Everyday Practical Electronics), and Nuts and Volts. It will allow you to get familiar with soldering and what not.

As for hardware programming, if you're familiar with C or C++ (I'm guessing you are sine you're a CS major), then microC and Arduino language are a good start for they are high level programming languages used to program microcontrollers without the hassle of assembly.

Thank you mesa!

@rtp: Try getting an arduino board, and read a tutorial. You'll know where to go from there :)

I'm all in for an electronics workshop.

Please let's do this.

Let's put our money where our mouths are. For the organizer of the next lebgeeks workshop, I'll be paying a modest $20. Let's raise some money so that we can afford the organizers' time.

Being me, I am more interested in pure electronics: transistor (CMOS, MOSFET, building logic out of those) and control theory. Alas, it's never bad to get your hands dirty!

I'm in. Interested to learn.

We have 4 participants so far!

What would you guys want to be able to do after this is over?
RTP wants to know how to remotely control a robot (and all the prerequisites of course). Others?

I'm in as well. This is definitely gonna be interesting.

Any update on this?

We are surely going to have this workshop. I'm not currently in Lebanon. Ill be back by the 18th, we will have the workshop soon after. Just keep on writing here what would interest you in robotics, and the questions that pop into your head. Not necessarily in the field of robotics, but electronics/hardware in general.

From my part I'd like to start from scratch.

I agree with arithma on paying a small sum.

I would also like to attend and agree to pay for the workshop's equipment.
Did you choose a place yet?

I'm in :)

What will be the subject for the workshop ? or let me say the table of contents.