In this chapter, we will honor the original automatons by building

some “robots” meant to entertain us, and hopefully, we also find

ourselves entertained by the process of building them. We will build a
robot that makes art, a robot that dances, and a frog-like robot that
jumps around and is hard to catch.
While we build these projects, think carefully about a question we
considered earlier in this book—the difference between a true robot and
a simple machine. Although you may conclude that some of the “robots”
we build aren’t robots capable of providing thought-out responses to
environmental inputs, remember this: Science builds upon itself. First,
people began making automatons. Now think about the early computers
that were bulky and had very limited capabilities compared with the
computers built today. All of these things were essential building blocks
that allowed us to create the high-tech robots in our world now, just like
the basic light circuit you built earlier became the foundation for your
robot-like night light.
While the “robots” we build in this and other chapters are not very
complicated, there are many examples in our world of complex and
intelligent robots meant to enhance life by entertaining, including
interacting with us in relatable and emotional ways, providing
companionship, and chatting with us. By building simple entertainment
“robots” now, you are developing the skills to build even cooler ones
later.