Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course1
### Course Review: Modern Robotics, Course 1: Foundations of Robot Motion If you have ever been intrigued by the world of robotics, whether from a theoretical perspective or with the ambition of building robots yourself, then the specialization "Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control" on Coursera is an excellent place to start. The first course in this specialization, "Foundations of Robot Motion," serves as both an introduction to key concepts in robotics and a stepping stone to more advanced studies. Here’s a detailed overview of what you can expect from this course. #### Overview The course is tailored for those willing to invest their time in understanding the fundamental mathematical modeling techniques essential to various subfields in robotics. It is particularly beneficial for students considering a career in robotics or those wishing to enhance their knowledge in this rapidly evolving field. The rigor of the course indicates that it is best suited for dedicated learners who do not shy away from complex topics. #### Course Structure The course is divided into several focused chapters, each tackling important topics that lay the groundwork for understanding robot motion. - **Introduction to Modern Robotics**: The course kicks off with an introduction to the specialization as a whole, including essential tools such as the Modern Robotics code library, the CoppeliaSim robot simulator, and a lightboard video-generation tool. This sets the stage for a practical and interactive learning experience. - **Chapter 2: Configuration Space (Part 1 & 2)**: Here, students dive into the concept of configuration space, a cornerstone for understanding the movement of robots. The first part covers the degrees of freedom of rigid bodies and robots, while the second part expands on configuration space topology, representation, and constraints on motion. Understanding these concepts is crucial for any robotics engineer as they lay the groundwork for motion planning. - **Chapter 3: Rigid-Body Motions (Part 1 & 2)**: This chapter deals with the mechanics of how rigid bodies move. The first part introduces rotation matrices and angular velocities, while the second part discusses homogeneous transformation matrices and the concept of twists and screws. Mastery of these topics is essential for anyone looking to comprehend how robots can move and interact with their environments. #### Learning Experience The instructional design of the course ensures a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. The use of simulations allows learners to visualize and interact with the concepts being taught, which greatly enhances understanding. The lightboard videos provide dynamic visual explanations that can help clarify complex ideas. #### Recommendations This course is highly recommended for: - **Aspiring Robotics Engineers**: If you are looking to build a foundational understanding of robotics before progressing to more advanced topics, "Foundations of Robot Motion" is an ideal starting point. - **Students Interested in Mathematical Modeling**: Those with an interest in applying mathematics to real-world problems in robotics will benefit immensely from the structured approach taken in this course. - **Professionals Seeking Skill Enhancement**: If you are already working in a related field and wish to deepen your knowledge in robotics, this course will provide crucial insights into the mechanics of robot motion. ### Conclusion Overall, the "Foundations of Robot Motion" course in the "Modern Robotics" specialization on Coursera is a comprehensive and well-structured introduction to the field of robotics. Its focus on mathematical modeling, coupled with practical simulation tools, equips students with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of robotics. If you're motivated by the challenges and opportunities in this exciting area, this course will undoubtedly pave the way for your future endeavors in robotics.
Introduction to Modern Robotics
Introduction to the specialization, the Modern Robotics code library, the CoppeliaSim robot simulator, and the lightboard video-generation tool.
Chapter 2: Configuration Space (Part 1 of 2)Configuration space and degrees of freedom of rigid bodies and robots.
Chapter 2: Configuration Space (Part 2 of 2)Configuration space topology and representation; configuration and velocity constraints; task space and workspace.
Chapter 3: Rigid-Body Motions (Part 1 of 2)Rigid-body motions, rotation matrices, angular velocities, and exponential coordinates of rotation.
Chapter 3: Rigid-Body Motions (Part 2 of 2)Homogeneous transformation matrices, twists, screws, exponential coordinates of rigid-body motion, and wrenches.
Do you want to know how robots work? Are you interested in robotics as a career? Are you willing to invest the effort to learn fundamental mathematical modeling techniques that are used in all subfields of robotics? If so, then the "Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control" specialization may be for you. This specialization, consisting of six short courses, is serious preparation for serious students who hope to work in the field of robotics or to undertake advanced study. It is n
Great Course. But you need to read the book very carefully and with great focus to understand all the concepts and you should be familiar with Linear Algebra especially vectors and matrices.
Really well structured and organized. The material can be slightly overwhelming at times because of the concepts, but once you get a hang of it, it becomes much better!
Explains the basics of Robot Motion in a clear and effective manner. Discussion prompts are especially fantastic to help students reflect on the course content by themselves.
It was a great course. Easy to get started. The material is not that simple though. Make sure you know your linear algebra and geometry well before starting.
Very Engineering driven course and you better be ready for the calculations... Made for Engineers.\n\nComing from an Electrical/Electronic background it was really intuitive. I plan on continuing...