Introduction to Robotics: Engineering & Code

A rigorous introduction to robotics engineering for older students ready to go beyond toy-level explanations. You'll cover the real electronics (voltage, current, circuits), embedded programming on real microcontroller platforms, sensor selection and fusion, motor control including PWM and PID, and the algorithms behind obstacle avoidance and line following. The course ends with a capstone project designing and building your own autonomous robot from requirements through to a working, tested build.

32 lessons ·

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What you will learn

1. Module 1: Foundations — What Modern Robotics Actually Is
- Robotics as a Discipline: Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering Together Free12 min
- The Sense-Think-Act Loop, Formally Free12 min
- Where Robotics Is Headed: Industry, Research, Space, Medicine Free10 min
- Engineering Safety and Responsible Robotics Free10 min
- Module 1 Quiz: Foundations5 min
2. Module 2: Electronics Fundamentals for Robotics
- Voltage, Current, and Resistance: The Physics You Actually Need14 min
- Reading a Circuit Diagram10 min
- Breadboarding a Real Circuit10 min
- Power Budgets: Why Robots Run Out of Juice12 min
- Module 2 Quiz: Electronics Fundamentals5 min
3. Module 3: Microcontrollers and Embedded Programming
- Arduino vs ESP32: Choosing Your Platform12 min
- Digital and Analog I/O12 min
- Reading a Datasheet Like an Engineer10 min
- Your First Real Program: Blink, Then Beyond12 min
- Module 3 Quiz: Microcontrollers and Embedded Programming5 min
4. Module 4: Sensors and Perception
- Distance Sensing: Ultrasonic vs Time-of-Flight12 min
- Inertial Sensing: Accelerometers and Gyroscopes12 min
- Sensor Noise and Why Filtering Matters12 min
- Fusing Multiple Sensors for Reliable Perception12 min
- Module 4 Quiz: Sensors and Perception5 min
5. Module 5: Actuation and Motion Control
- DC Motors, Servos, and Steppers: Choosing the Right Actuator12 min
- Motor Drivers and H-Bridges12 min
- PWM: How Software Controls Analog-Feeling Motion12 min
- PID Control: Making Movement Smooth and Accurate14 min
- Module 5 Quiz: Actuation and Motion Control5 min
6. Module 6: Programming Robot Behavior
- State Machines: How Robots Manage Behavior12 min
- Obstacle Avoidance Algorithms12 min
- Line and Wall Following Logic12 min
- Debugging Embedded Systems: When You Can't Just Print to Console12 min
- Module 6 Quiz: Programming Robot Behavior5 min
7. Module 7: Capstone — Autonomous Robot Project
- Designing an Autonomous Robot: Requirements to Architecture14 min
- Building, Testing, and Iterating Your Robot14 min