Welcome to the Syllabus. On this page you will find information about the course's outline, content, what we expect from you and what you can expect from us.
Course outline
The course is made up of 7 weeks:
- Week 0: Getting Started with Robotic Operating Systems (ROS). General course introduction and information on all that you will need to complete this course, including a step by step installation guide for the required (free) software.
- Week 1: ROS Essentials. Introduction to ROS Topics, Services, Actions and Nodes. Simple interaction with the course simulation environment.
- Week 2: Build your own robot environment. Software representation of a Robot using Unified Robot Description Format (URDF), ROS parameter server and adding real-world object representations to the simulation environment.
- Week 3: Autonomous Navigation. Map creation with GMapping package, autonomously navigate a known map with ROS navigation.
- Week 4: Manipulation. Motion planning, pick and place behaviors using industrial robots with ROS MoveIt!
- Week 5: Robot Vision. Object detection, pose estimation.
- Week 6: Final Project. ROS file system, basic concepts of behavior design with state machines, build a production line application with two industrial robot arms and a mobile robot.
- Week 7: Closing
Modules will release weekly, on Wednesdays at 12:00 UTC. Note: Weeks 0 and 1 release at the same time, and weeks 6 and 7 release at the same time.
Course content
Each of the modules above will consist of a variety of different forms of content: video lectures, text explanations, multiple choice quizzes and practical assignments.
The videos lectures, text explanations, and multiple choice quizzes are available to all learners.
The practical assignments are available in PDF form for learners following the course for free (audit learners) and in an interactive form, including feedback from peers and instructors, for the verified learners following the course to earn a certificate. Verified learners will have 2 weeks (starting on the release date of the corresponding module) to complete the assignments and submit their answers, and 4 days after this to carry out the assessment and feedback step, when relevant. Verified learners must score 60% on the graded assignments to obtain their course certificate.
Please check the exact deadlines for each assignment, and take note of them in order not to miss them.
What we expect from you
Prior knowledge
- Basic Linear Algebra
- Basic programming in Python
- Basic knowledge of the Linux command line tools
- A computer ready for Ubuntu-Linux installation
Behavior guidelines
The discussion forum is an important tool on the learning platform for you to share and discuss your questions, issues, insights, and ideas. We stimulate a positive, constructive atmosphere in the discussion forum. Please pay attention to the guidelines provided below to make this course a pleasant experience for everyone!
- Be respectful. Please, show respect to your fellow participants. We encourage debate and discussion but only when this is done in a polite and respectful manner. We do not tolerate rude behavior, and condescending or abusive words. Instances will be reported and removed.
- Be constructive in your feedback. Learning in an online community is about interacting with each other. When commenting or providing feedback on work of others, be constructive and whenever possible provide suggestions for improvement.
- Be sensitive to your peers’ background and culture. This is a global forum with participants from around the world. This means that your fellow participants may come from very diverse cultures and backgrounds. Please be sensitive to this when discussing your own work or results of others.
- Post appropriate content. Content that violates the Terms of Service is not permitted. You may not post inappropriate or copyrighted content, advertise or promote outside products or organizations, or spam the forums with repeat content.
More details are available in our Forum Guidelines.
What you can expect from us
The course instructors and moderators will track your progress, give feedback on certain key graded assignments, and also regularly visit the forum to help you and to identify potential changes/fixes to the course material.