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William Harwin,
Richard Mitchell,
Timothy Threadgold,
Louis Swaidani,
and
Yen Tu
Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed for anyone with an interest in robotics- you don’t need to own your own robot to take part. Please be aware that this course contains video clips that include sequences of flickering/flashing lights which might affect learners who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. You can use the hashtag #FLrobotics to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
Read more
Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed for anyone with an interest in robotics- you don’t need to own your own robot to take part. Please be aware that this course contains video clips that include sequences of flickering/flashing lights which might affect learners who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. You can use the hashtag #FLrobotics to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
Read more
Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed for anyone with an interest in robotics- you don’t need to own your own robot to take part. Please be aware that this course contains video clips that include sequences of flickering/flashing lights which might affect learners who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. You can use the hashtag #FLrobotics to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
- An introduction to robotics from a cybernetic perspective
- Overview of different types of robots and their application
- History of robotics
- Introduction to the robot simulations used in the course
- Problem solving: commanding a mobile robot to move
- A description of the components of a robot – sensors, actuators, ’brain’ and power supply
- An understanding of different sensors, their operation and application
- A description of motors, and how their velocity is set, and other robotic actuators
- Problem solving: commanding a robot to achieve tasks on the basis of sensor information
- Feedback for control and human-machine interaction
- An explanation of feedback control of steering and speed in robots and in other applications such as balance, temperature and damping oscillations
- Simple mathematical modelling of robots and different forms of control strategies
- Human-Computer Interaction: feedback, including haptics
- Problem solving: commanding a robot to follow a path
- Feedback for Learning and robot: robot interaction
- An appreciation of neuron based brains through Braitenburg vehicles
- Robot learning by trial and error
- Multiple robots and artificial life, relating to biological processes
- Problem solving: commanding a robot to traverse a maze
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Reviews summary
Introduction to robotics for beginners
According to learners, the Begin Robotics course from the University of Reading provides a solid and accessible introduction to the field. Students appreciated the breadth of topics covered, including history, components, control, and learning, presented from a cybernetic perspective. Many found the simulations and demonstrations helpful for understanding concepts without needing physical hardware. However, some reviewers felt the course lacked depth or practical application, particularly for those with prior knowledge or seeking hands-on experience beyond simulations. A few mentioned technical issues with the platform or simulations, but overall, it is considered a good starting point for those new to robotics.
Introduces fundamental robotics topics.
"It covers different types of robots, sensors, actuators, and basic control systems."
"Gave me a good overview of the components and concepts needed to understand robotics."
"Learned about feedback control and different types of robot 'brains'."
Simulations aid understanding theory.
"The simulations were very useful for visualizing the concepts discussed in the lectures."
"Liked the demos showing how robots solve problems using sensors."
"Being able to use the simulator meant I didn't need a physical robot to learn."
Excellent starting point for newcomers.
"A good introduction to robotics for beginners who know nothing about the field. It gives a general idea about most important robotics concepts."
"Great introduction to the world of robotics for the very beginner."
"This course is perfect for absolute beginners wanting to dip their toes into robotics."
"Found this course very helpful for understanding the basics of robots."
Some users experienced technical glitches.
"Had some trouble getting the simulations to run correctly on my system."
"The platform interface was a bit clunky at times."
"Encountered minor technical difficulties throughout the course."
May be too basic; limited hands-on.
"It was a very brief introduction and lacked the depth I was hoping for."
"Felt like it stayed mostly theoretical without much practical, hands-on application beyond simple simulations."
"For someone with a bit of background, this might feel too basic or like a review."
"Could use more detail on implementation or specific programming examples."
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Reading list
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Focusing on the algorithms behind mobile robot perception and control, this book is essential for understanding topics like localization, mapping, and state estimation in the presence of uncertainty. It is geared towards graduate students and researchers and is considered a seminal work in the field of mobile robotics.
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Comprehensive textbook on robotics, covering a wide range of topics from kinematics to machine learning. It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Comprehensive textbook on robot modeling and control. It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Mathematical introduction to robotics, covering topics such as kinematics, dynamics, and control. It is suitable for undergraduate students.
Provides a rigorous mathematical treatment of robotic manipulation, focusing on the kinematics, dynamics, and control of robot arms. It is aimed at graduate students and researchers with a strong mathematical background and is considered a foundational text for theoretical robotics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in robotic welding. It covers topics such as robotic welding processes, welding automation, and welding quality control.
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Offers a unified treatment of robot mechanics, planning, and control using the contemporary approach of screw theory. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and is often used as a textbook. The book provides a strong theoretical basis and includes software examples for practical understanding.
Provides a comprehensive overview of robot motion planning, covering theoretical foundations, algorithms, and practical implementations. It is suitable for graduate students and researchers and key reference for anyone working on how robots navigate and move in complex environments.
Offers a practical introduction to robotics and computer vision with a strong emphasis on algorithmic implementation using MATLAB. It is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students and provides a hands-on approach to learning key concepts through readily available software tools.
Offers a comprehensive introduction to robot modeling and control, covering kinematics, dynamics, and control strategies. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and is widely used as a textbook in robotics courses.
Provides a broad introduction to the principles and techniques of autonomous mobile robots, including locomotion, perception, localization, mapping, and planning. It is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students and offers a good overview of the challenges and solutions in mobile robotics.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the AI approach to robotics, covering algorithms and programming for robot systems. It is suitable for students with or without a background in AI and explores how AI contributes to autonomous capabilities. The second edition includes new material on learning, human-robot interaction, and ethics.
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Essential for robotics that interact with their environment visually, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to computer vision. It covers fundamental concepts and algorithms, making it suitable for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students. It valuable reference for perception in robotics.
Foundational text in reinforcement learning, a key area for developing intelligent and autonomous robots that can learn from experience. It is suitable for graduate students and researchers and provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and algorithms of reinforcement learning.
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Offers a broad and unified treatment of planning algorithms, which are crucial for robots to make decisions and choose actions. It valuable resource for graduate students and researchers interested in the theoretical underpinnings of robot autonomy.
As a comprehensive handbook, this book covers a vast range of topics in robotics, from fundamentals to advanced research. It is an excellent reference for researchers and professionals, providing detailed insights into various subfields of robotics. While not a textbook for a single course, it is invaluable for deepening understanding and exploring contemporary topics.
Provides a practical guide to designing and building autonomous robots. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate students and hobbyists interested in the hands-on aspects of robotics, covering topics from hardware selection to software architecture.
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Given the increasing integration of robots into society, understanding the ethical implications is crucial. explores the ethical and social issues raised by robotics, making it relevant for students and professionals across various disciplines interested in the broader impact of robotics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of robotics, covering topics such as kinematics, dynamics, control, and perception. It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/nsogbj/begin
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Time
12 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
University of Reading
Instructors
William Harwin
Richard Mitchell
Timothy Threadgold
Louis Swaidani
Yen Tu
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