Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of robotics and master the skills that are shaping the future of automation? Our self-paced, four-month course in mobile manipulation is your gateway to becoming a confident robotics practitioner—no prior experience required.
Using the versatile and advanced LIMO robot as your learning platform, this program blends theory with hands-on practice. You’ll move beyond abstract concepts to gain real-world expertise in programming, simulation, and operating physical robots. Through clear explanations, structured lessons, and engaging examples, you’ll build the technical foundation and practical confidence needed to tackle complex robotic challenges and innovate in this rapidly evolving field.
What You’ll Learn
This course is designed to give you a well-rounded skill set in robotics. By the end, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the core principles of mobile robot kinematics, dynamics, and control systems.
- Master robot arm kinematics—including forward and inverse kinematics—and trajectory planning.
- Integrate perception systems such as cameras and LiDAR for object detection and pose estimation.
- Use ROS 2 effectively for navigation, motion planning, and control.
- Simulate robotic systems in virtual environments and deploy code on real hardware.
- Implement advanced manipulation techniques like grasping, pick-and-place operations, and compliant motion.
- Troubleshoot and debug complex robotics systems with confidence.
Your Robotics Toolkit
To get the most out of this course, you’ll need to set up your personal robotics lab. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A modern computer running Ubuntu 20.04 or newer for full ROS 2 compatibility.
- A stable installation of ROS 2 (Foxy, Galactic, or Humble distributions).
- Gazebo simulation software for testing robotic behaviors in virtual environments.
- Basic development tools for Python 3 and C++.
- (Optional but highly recommended) A physical LIMO robot to apply your skills in the real world.
Course Outline: 4 Months of Hands-On Learning
Weeks 1–2: Foundations of Mobile Robotics
Lesson 1: Introduction to Mobile Robotics and the LIMO Platform
Start with the basics. You’ll explore what makes a robot “mobile,” review common robot types and their applications, and get an in-depth look at the LIMO robot. We’ll walk you through its hardware components—differential drive system, sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces—and guide you step by step in setting up your development environment. Your first hands-on task will involve launching a LIMO simulation in Gazebo and, if available, controlling a real robot via teleoperation.
Lesson 2: Mobile Robot Kinematics and Odometry
Next, you’ll dive into the math behind robot motion. Learn how wheel velocities translate into robot movement using forward and inverse kinematics for differential drive robots. You’ll also explore odometry—how robots estimate their position using encoder data—and write your own Python script to perform these calculations. This foundational skill is essential for navigation and localization tasks.
Weeks 3–4: Robot Arm Control and Mobile Manipulation
Lesson 3: Introduction to Robot Manipulators and the LIMO Arm
Now it’s time to shift focus from mobility to manipulation. You’ll learn about robot arms—how they’re designed, their degrees of freedom, and where they’re used in industry. We’ll then introduce the LIMO’s integrated robotic arm, exploring its mechanical structure, workspace, and capabilities. You’ll practice sending joint commands via ROS 2 in simulation, gaining hands-on experience with arm control.
Lesson 4: Forward and Inverse Kinematics for Robot Arms
This lesson deepens your understanding of robot arm motion. You’ll calculate the position of the arm’s end-effector using forward kinematics and then tackle the more complex challenge of inverse kinematics—figuring out which joint angles are needed to reach a specific point in space. You’ll experiment with ROS 2 kinematics solvers to make precise, goal-oriented movements with the LIMO arm.
Why This Course?
This isn’t just another theoretical robotics course. It’s a practical, immersive experience designed for real-world application. You’ll learn by doing—writing code, running simulations, and, if possible, working with actual hardware. Whether you’re aiming for a career in robotics, looking to upskill, or simply passionate about automation, this course gives you the tools to succeed.
By the end of the program, you’ll not only understand the theory behind mobile manipulation—you’ll have the skills to build, simulate, and deploy intelligent robotic systems. Your journey into the future of robotics starts here.