ROS For Beginners (ROS Noetic, Melodic, Kinetic) from Udemy

(Updated with ROS Noetic - This course is now valid for ROS Kinetic, ROS Melodic, and ROS Noetic)

Learning ROS is hard, and you know it. But why should it be that way?

There is a lack of structured resources for beginners. You can find some explanations and programming tutorials online about Robot Operating System, but they won’t really tell you which path to follow when you begin, where to go, what to focus on, etc.

That’s why I’ve created this course, that I wish I had when I begun. So you can learn ROS much faster than I did.

The goal of this course is to remove the big learning curve that you face when you start to learn ROS by yourself. I will show you, step by step, what you need to know to get started and master ROS basics.

This course is:

Structured in a way that is easy to follow for a beginner
Going through all ROS core concepts that you need, step by step
Going to the point. No useless and over-complicated stuff that you won’t use anyway.
Full of practice and challenges to make you progress faster

Now, why should you choose my course?

In the past I have developed a complete ROS software for an entire 6 axis robotic arm. I’m telling you that because by developing this robot, I learned (the hard way) what I really needed to know to build things that actually work.

My experience with ROS is not only about university work or a weekend hobby: I actually co-founded a business with a robot powered by ROS. By doing so, I had to focus on going to the point, finding what is useful, and what is not.

So today, with the practical vision that I’ve developed, I know exactly what you need to learn at the beginning if you want to get serious about building robotic applications.

What is this course about?

This course will guide you, step by step, through all the ROS core functionalities. We’ll focus on ROS basics, communication tools, and also on how to build a scalable application with Robot Operating System.

For each section, I will explain one concept in a way that is easy to understand, and then you will practice with me by writing, building, and running some code. I will show you what you need to pay attention to, what you need to focus on, and how to avoid common mistakes.

And, more importantly, I will give you some activities and challenges to make you practice on the concepts that you’ve just seen.

Note that all the code written in this course will be both in Python and C++, so you can decide to learn ROS with those 2 languages, or only one of them.

So.. Start your learning today and build awesome robotic applications with ROS .

After installing ROS on a Ubuntu OS, you will learn the following ROS key concepts :

Nodes
Topics
Services
Msg and Srv definitions
Parameters
Launch Files
And much more.

By mastering those concepts, you will be 100% ready to start any other robotic application and build complete software from scratch using Robot Operating System.

You will also learn how to :

Debug your program
Use command-line tools for each key concept
Build your application
Correctly set up and manage your project structure

And as I want to make you develop great (not just good, because “good” is not good enough) and scalable robotic applications, I will share with you the best practices that I’ve learned from my own experience.

UPDATE:

Note: this course targets the first version of ROS, or "ROS1". This is not a ROS2 course.

- Should you learn ROS1 or ROS2?

Well, ROS2 is the future of ROS, that's for sure. And as of today, ROS2 is stable enough, with most of the stacks and plugins ready to be used. So, as a general advice, I now recommend to start with ROS2 if you want to learn ROS.

However, learning ROS1 will allow you to work on any ROS legacy project (there are a lot), and this can be a good skillset to have for a job search. Another argument is that learning both ROS2 and ROS1 will give you a better idea of the global picture.

Finally, once you have the basics with ROS1 and a few projects under your belt, switching to ROS2 actually won't be that hard. Most of the concepts are identical for the 2 versions.

The best option would be to learn So you can work with any existing ROS project, and also work with the new framework.

All in all, don't hesitate too much: the best thing you can do is to start learning ROS today, whether it's ROS1 and ROS2.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Master ros basics
Create, build, run, and debug your ros program
Master ros core functionalities
Learn ros best practices to make your application readable and scalable

Create reusable code for any robot powered by ros
Write ros code with both python and c++
Learn by doing, not just watching

Master ros basics
Create, build, run, and debug your ros program
Master ros core functionalities
Learn ros best practices to make your application readable and scalable
Create reusable code for any robot powered by ros
Write ros code with both python and c++
Learn by doing, not just watching

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome !

What is ROS, When to use it, and Why ?

How to get the most out of this course

Install ROS and Setup Your Environment

Intro

[UPDATE] Quick note on versions - please read

Which ROS Version to Use ? Kinetic, Melodic, Noetic ? What about ROS2?

Install Ubuntu 20.04 on a Virtual Machine

Install ROS Noetic on Ubuntu 20.04

Launch Your First ROS Master

Section Conclusion

Run Your First ROS Program

Create a Catkin Workspace

Additional Note about Setting Up your ROS Environment

Create a ROS Package

What is a Node ?

Your First Python Node

Your First C++ Node

Debug Your Nodes With Command Line Tools

Visualize Your ROS Graph With rqt_graph

Experiment on Nodes With Turtlesim

Communicate With ROS Topics

What is a Topic ?

Create a Python Publisher

Create a Python Subscriber

Create a C++ Publisher

Create a C++ Subscriber

Use Anonymous Nodes to Launch Multiple Publishers/Subscribers

Debug Topics With Command Line Tools

Visualize Topics With rqt_graph

Experiment on Topics With Turtlesim

Topic Activity

Topic Activity - Solution

Communicate With ROS Services

What is a Service ?

Create a Python Service Server

Create a Python Service Client

Create a C++ Service Server & Client

Debug Services With Command Line Tools

Experiment on Services With Turtlesim

Service Activity

Service Activity - Solution

Customize Your Application With Msg and Srv Files

What are Msg and Srv Definitions ?

Create and Build Your Own Custom Msg

Use Your Custom Msg in Your Code

Create Your Own Custom Srv

Debug Msg and Srv With Command Line Tools

Msg & Srv Activity

Msg & Srv Activity - Solution

Make Your Application Scalable With ROS Params and Launch Files

What is a ROS Parameter ?

Manipulate Parameters With Command Line Tools

Handle Parameters With Python

Handle Parameters With C++

What is a Launch File ?

Create a Launch File to Start all Your Parameters and Nodes

Extra

Replay a Topic With ROS Bags

Use OOP With ROS - Python

Use OOP With ROS - C++

Work With Multiple Catkin Workspaces

Conclusion

What You've Learned

What to Do Next ?

Useful Resources

Bonus Lecture

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops robotics system design skills and expertise, which are core skills for robotics engineers

Taught by Edouard Renard, who is recognized for their work in robotics

Uses widely adopted software and tools, including ROS, Python, and C++

Emphasizes ROS core functionalities, enabling stronger foundations

Covers ROS parameters and launch files, which are essential for building scalable applications

Provides ample opportunities for practice, reinforcement learning, and experimentation

Reviews summary

Ros for beginners in noetic

According to students, ROS For Beginners (ROS Noetic, Melodic, Kinetic) is an introductory course to the Robot Operating System (ROS). Learners say that the course is generally well-structured and the instructors are engaging. However, the automatically generated subtitles are difficult to understand.

Course is well-structured.

Instructors are engaging.

Automatically generated subtitles are difficult to understand.

"The automatically generated subtitles are very weird."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in ROS For Beginners (ROS Noetic, Melodic, Kinetic) with these activities:

Understand Nodes

Show steps

Reinforce the theory you have learned outside of class or in other courses

Browse courses on Nodes

Show steps

Read about Nodes in ROS
Code examples of how to use Nodes
Debug a simple Node

ROS Resources Compilation

Show steps

Gather and organize helpful resources, such as tutorials, documentation, and community forums, to support your learning journey throughout the course.

Show steps

Create a list of useful ROS websites, blogs, and forums.
Bookmark important ROS documentation and tutorials.

Review ROS concepts

Show steps

Refreshes ROS basics for application in the course.

Browse courses on ROS

Show steps

Review the ROS documentation for ROS core concepts.
Review online tutorials on ROS for practical examples.
Practice writing ROS code examples.

Seven other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all ten activities

Follow ROS tutorials

Show steps

Provides additional guidance and examples for practical application of ROS.

Browse courses on ROS

Show steps

Follow ROS tutorials on the official ROS website or other online resources.
Join online communities or forums for ROS users to ask questions and learn from others.
Attend ROS workshops or online webinars.

ROS Coding Drills

Show steps

Complete a series of coding exercises to reinforce your understanding of ROS concepts and improve your programming skills.

Show steps

Solve coding challenges from online platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode.
Participate in a ROS coding competition or hackathon.
Work on a personal ROS project to apply your skills.

ROS Study Group

Show steps

Join a study group with other students to discuss ROS concepts, work on projects together, and support each other's learning.

Show steps

Find or create a study group with peers who are also enrolled in the course.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, share ideas, and work on assignments together.

Create a ROS tutorial or presentation

Show steps

Deepens understanding by organizing and presenting information in a clear and engaging manner.

Browse courses on Content Creation

Show steps

Choose a specific ROS topic or concept to focus on.
Research and gather information from reliable sources.
Create a tutorial or presentation using visuals, examples, and clear explanations.
Share the tutorial or presentation with others for feedback and dissemination.

ROS Advanced Tutorials

Show steps

Explore advanced ROS topics, such as SLAM, navigation, and perception, through guided tutorials to enhance your knowledge and skills.

Show steps

Follow online tutorials on specific ROS advanced topics.
Attend webinars or workshops on ROS advanced concepts.
Read research papers on ROS-related topics.

Mentor junior ROS learners

Show steps

Solidifies understanding by explaining concepts to others and fostering their learning.

Browse courses on Teaching

Show steps

Volunteer as a mentor for beginner ROS users.
Answer questions and provide guidance on ROS forums or online communities.
Create tutorial materials or resources for others to learn ROS.

Contribute to ROS open-source projects

Show steps

Enhances understanding by engaging with the ROS community and contributing to real-world projects.

Browse courses on Community Involvement

Show steps

Identify open-source ROS projects that align with your interests and skills.
Read the project documentation and codebase.
Contribute code, documentation, or bug fixes to the project.
Collaborate with other contributors and maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete ROS For Beginners (ROS Noetic, Melodic, Kinetic) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Robotics Engineer

Robotics engineers design, build, operate, and maintain robots. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a robotics engineer will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring robotics engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Software Engineer

Software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a software engineer will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring software engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field, particularly in the robotics subfield.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Engineer

Systems engineers design, develop, integrate, and maintain complex systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a systems engineer will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring systems engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers design, develop, test, and maintain environmental systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as an environmental engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring environmental engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers design, develop, test, and maintain petroleum systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a petroleum engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring petroleum engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Petroleum Engineer

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain biomedical systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a biomedical engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring biomedical engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design, develop, test, and maintain civil systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a civil engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring civil engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear engineers design, develop, test, and maintain nuclear systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a nuclear engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring nuclear engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers design, develop, test, and maintain aerospace systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as an aerospace engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring aerospace engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain electrical systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as an electrical engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring electrical engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Industrial Engineer

Industrial engineers design, develop, test, and maintain industrial systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as an industrial engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring industrial engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Engineer

Computer Engineer

Computer engineers design, develop, test, and maintain computer systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a computer engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring computer engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Engineer

Materials Engineer

Materials engineers design, develop, test, and maintain materials systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a materials engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring materials engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain mechanical systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a mechanical engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring mechanical engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain chemical systems. Course participants who may be interested in a career as a chemical engineer in robotics will learn the fundamentals of ROS, the Robot Operating System. ROS is a widely-used framework that provides users with the tools they need to build complex robotic systems, including perception, planning, control, and navigation. By mastering ROS through this course, aspiring chemical engineers will be prepared to enter or advance their careers in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer