"It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a . . . robot hummingbird? Meet robots inspired by animals that are racing through water like sharks, climbing walls like geckos, flying through the sky like honeybees, and more." --

Introduces robots and the science behind these amazing machines, including a historic timeline of robot development, common jobs robots perform in the workplace and at home, and robots of the future.

"Without underwater robots, people never would have been able to explore the shipwreck of the Titanic as much as they have. From mapping the ocean floor to testing water quality, the jobs these robots can do are astounding. Through many examples and full-color photographs, readers dive deep with underwater robots, learning the technology behind these amazing machines and how they help people every day. Sidebars complement the main content with information...

"Machines That Think! explores machines from ancient history to today that perform a multitude of tasks, from making mind-numbing calculations to working on assembly lines to guiding spaceships to the moon. Included are fascinating looks at the world's earliest calculators, the birth of computer programming, and the arrival of smartphones. Contributors discussed include Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, Ada Lovelace, and Bill Gates. From the abacus...

"A group of robots demonstrates the difference between a want and a need, by making trades to get some things they really want and accidentally giving away some things they really need"-- "Do you know the difference between a want and a need? It can be a hard thing to understand, especially when you want something so much that you feel like you have to have it. But some things aren't essential--like jellybean tacos and groovy boots. Other things...