ROBOTICS AND ROBOTICS DESIGN
Professional Course Content: Robotics & Robotics Design
Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive foundation in robotics, focusing on mechanical design, electronics, control systems, and intelligent programming. Learners will design, build, and program robotic systems while applying industry best practices and safety standards.
Target Audience:
Engineering students, diploma holders, professionals in mechanical/electrical/electronics/mechatronics, and robotics enthusiasts.
Course Duration:
120–160 hours (can be adapted for semester / certification / bootcamp formats)
Module 1: Introduction to Robotics
- History and evolution of robotics
- Types of robots (Industrial, Service, Mobile, Humanoid, Medical, Drones)
- Applications of robotics across industries
- Robotics terminology and system overview
- Ethical, social, and economic impacts of robotics
Module 2: Mechanical Design for Robotics
- Robot anatomy and structure
- Degrees of freedom (DOF)
- Kinematic chains and configurations
- Materials selection for robotic systems
- Actuators: DC motors, Servo motors, Stepper motors, Linear actuators
- Gear systems, belts, pulleys, and transmissions
- CAD tools for robotic design (SolidWorks / Fusion 360 / Creo)
Practical:
- Design of a robotic arm or mobile robot chassis in CAD
Module 3: Electronics & Embedded Systems
- Basics of electronics for robotics
- Power systems and battery management
- Sensors:
- Proximity, IR, Ultrasonic, LiDAR
- IMU (Accelerometer, Gyroscope)
- Encoders, Force and Tactile sensors
- Microcontrollers and processors (Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi)
- Motor drivers and interfacing
- PCB basics and wiring best practices
Practical:
- Sensor interfacing and motor control experiments
Module 4: Robotics Kinematics & Dynamics
- Forward and inverse kinematics
- Coordinate frames and transformations
- Denavit–Hartenberg (D-H) parameters
- Workspace and singularities
- Basics of robot dynamics
- Trajectory planning
Module 5: Control Systems for Robotics
- Open-loop vs closed-loop control
- Feedback systems
- PID control for robotic motion
- Stability and response analysis
- Motion control techniques
Practical:
- PID tuning for motor speed and position control
Module 6: Programming for Robotics
- Programming fundamentals for robotics
- C/C++ and Python for robotics
- Real-time programming concepts
- State machines and task scheduling
- Communication protocols: UART, I2C, SPI, CAN
Practical:
- Writing modular, reusable robot control code
Module 7: Mobile Robotics
- Types of mobile robots (wheeled, tracked, legged)
- Locomotion and steering mechanisms
- Localization techniques
- Obstacle detection and avoidance
- Path planning algorithms
Practical:
- Line follower and obstacle-avoiding robot
Module 8: Robot Operating System (ROS)
- Introduction to ROS ecosystem
- ROS architecture and tools
- Nodes, topics, services, and messages
- Simulation using Gazebo
- ROS-based navigation stack
Practical:
- Simulating and controlling a robot using ROS
Module 9: Robotics Design & Prototyping
- Design methodology and system integration
- Rapid prototyping techniques (3D printing, laser cutting)
- Assembly and testing
- Debugging hardware and software
- Safety standards and compliance (ISO, IEC basics)
Module 10: Artificial Intelligence in Robotics
- Basics of AI and machine learning
- Computer vision for robotics
- Object detection and tracking
- Sensor fusion
- Autonomous decision-making
Module 11: Industrial & Collaborative Robotics
- Industrial robot architectures
- End effectors and grippers
- Collaborative robots (Cobots)
- Robot calibration and maintenance
- Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing
Module 12: Capstone Project
- Problem identification
- System design and planning
- Hardware and software integration
- Testing, validation, and optimization
- Technical documentation and presentation
Example Projects:
- Autonomous mobile robot
- Pick-and-place robotic arm
- Smart warehouse robot
- Vision-based sorting system
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Design and build robotic systems from scratch
- Integrate mechanical, electrical, and software components
- Program robots for real-world tasks
- Apply control systems and AI techniques
- Develop industry-standard robotics projects
Assessment Methods
- Quizzes & assignments
- Lab experiments
- Midterm evaluation
- Final capstone project
- Viva / technical presentation
