Make: Robotic Arms

Make: Robotic Arms is a hands-on book about designing, building, and controlling robotic arms with Arduino. Its project-based progression covers servo circuits, arm designs with two to four links, input devices, and inverse kinematics, making it a practical introduction for students, teachers, and makers prepared to assemble parts and follow code and math concepts.

At a glance

Covers building two-, three-, and four-link robotic arms and controlling them with Arduino programming.
Introduces servos and input options including potentiometers, joysticks, and rotary encoders.
Explains inverse kinematics for planning arm movements, with projects progressing toward operation in 3D space.
The description cites 26 projects, more than 200 color images, and step-by-step instructions.

Price

$29.31Save 27%

Reference price: ~~$39.99~~

Price checked: Nov 14, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Combines physical construction with Arduino control and robotics concepts rather than focusing on theory alone.
The progression from simple servo circuits to more complex arm movements can suit readers starting without prior experience.
Explores several ways to control an arm and introduces inverse kinematics for readers seeking more advanced movement techniques.

Cons

Projects depend on obtaining parts and an Arduino, so the book alone is not a ready-to-use robotics kit.
Readers looking for a build-only guide may find the programming and inverse-kinematics material requires additional learning.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Make Community, LLC
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	219 pages
ISBN-13	978-1680458435

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.2 pounds
Dimensions	7.5 x 0.75 x 9 inches

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes both 26 immersive projects and four robots to create. These counts may refer to different scopes, so check the book's project structure if the exact number of completed arm builds matters. Parts and Arduino hardware are discussed as project materials, but no included components are specified.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Students, teachers, and makers looking for a guided introduction to building Arduino-controlled robotic arms.
Beginners who want hands-on projects alongside introductory programming and movement concepts.
Readers with some experience who want to explore inverse kinematics and more complex arm motion.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a complete robotic arm kit with parts included.
Readers who want a purely mechanical build guide without Arduino programming or math concepts.

Make: Robotic Arms · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

5 / 5 · 12 ratings

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The supplied evidence contains aggregate ratings but no customer comments or aspect-specific feedback. Ratings are uniformly five-star in the displayed distribution, but the small number of ratings does not establish why readers liked the book or how well its projects work. Buyers should use the listed scope—Arduino projects, arm construction, and inverse kinematics—to judge whether it fits their learning goals.

Frequently asked questions

Does this book include a robotic arm kit?

No kit contents are specified. The book teaches projects using parts and Arduino, so plan to source hardware separately unless the selected listing explicitly says otherwise.

Is it suitable for a beginner?

The listing presents it as accessible to readers with no previous experience and aimed at students, teachers, and makers. It still includes programming and math topics, including inverse kinematics.

What kinds of projects and controls does it cover?

The description covers arms with two, three, and four links, Arduino programming, and controls using potentiometers, joysticks, and rotary encoders.

How many projects are included?

The listing cites 26 immersive projects but also describes creating four robots. Those statements may count different kinds of activities, so consult the contents if a precise build count is important.