This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the 2nd SAB 2006 International Workshop on Swarm Robotics held in Rome, Italy in September/October 2006 as a satellite event of SAB 2006, the 9th Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behavior.

The 14 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 21 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on algorithms, modelling and analysis, hardware, and evolutionary approaches.

Swarm robotics can be defined as the study of how a swarm of relatively simple physically embodied agents can be constructed to collectively accomplish tasks that are beyond the capabilities of a single one. Unlike other studies on multi-robot systems, swarm robotics emphasizes self-organization and emergence, while keeping in mind the issues of scalability and robustness. These emphases promote the use of relatively simple robots, equipped with localized sensing ability, scalable communication mechanisms, and the exploration of decentralized control strategies.

This state-of-the-art survey is the first book devoted to swarm robotics. It is based on the First International Workshop on Swarm Robotics held in Santa Monica, CA, USA in July 2004 as part of SAB 2004

This hands-on book teaches advanced robot building techniques, and follows up where preceding Apress robotic titles leave off. "Practical and Experimental Robotics with Kits" focuses on robot building through the use of various kits, all of which can provide inexpensive and convenient routes to learning advanced concepts.

The authors share vivid theory about robotics, then move on to detailed explanations about construction and experiments for different types of robots. The range of robots includes armed, wheeled, and legged. This book is a comprehensive resource for learning about and understanding robotics in depth, whether you're a hobbyist or student.