Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This specialization offers a comprehensive introduction to modern robotics, covering the core areas of mechanics, planning, and control. Through six structured modules, learners gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills using industry-standard tools like the CoppeliaSim robot simulator. The course blends lectures, hands-on exercises, and simulation projects to build expertise in robot motion, kinematics, dynamics, motion planning, and manipulation. With approximately 170 hours of total content, this beginner-friendly program is ideal for aspiring robotics professionals seeking to apply foundational concepts to real-world challenges.

Module 1: Foundations of Robot Motion

Estimated time: 24 hours

• Robot configurations and degrees of freedom
• Configuration space (C-space) concepts
• Representing robot orientation and position
• Using Modern Robotics software and CoppeliaSim simulator

Module 2: Robot Kinematics

Estimated time: 30 hours

• Forward kinematics using product-of-exponentials formula
• Inverse kinematics solutions
• Spatial Jacobians and velocity kinematics
• Robot arm configuration analysis

Module 3: Robot Dynamics

Estimated time: 30 hours

• Forward dynamics for robot acceleration
• Inverse dynamics for force and torque analysis
• Newton-Euler formulation
• Dynamic modeling of robotic systems

Module 4: Robot Motion Planning and Control

Estimated time: 31 hours

• Motion planning in configuration space (C-space)
• Graph search algorithms for path planning
• Trajectory planning and optimization
• Real-time feedback control techniques

Module 5: Robot Manipulation and Wheeled Mobile Robots

Estimated time: 35 hours

• Grasping and handling techniques
• Mobile manipulator design and control
• Wheeled mobile robot kinematics
• Integration of mobility and manipulation

Module 6: Capstone Project

Estimated time: 20 hours

• Design a mobile manipulation task in simulation
• Implement planning and control algorithms
• Combine hardware and software concepts in a real-world scenario

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with linear algebra and calculus
• Basic programming experience in Python or MATLAB
• Understanding of classical mechanics fundamentals

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Analyze robot configurations and degrees of freedom
• Solve forward and inverse kinematics using product-of-exponentials
• Model and simulate robot dynamics for control applications
• Plan collision-free trajectories in complex environments
• Design and implement mobile manipulation systems in simulation