Foundations of Robotics: Kinematics and Core Concepts — PickAClass
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⏱ 2h 55m 📚 27 lessons

Foundations of Robotics: Kinematics and Core Concepts

Master the essential mathematics, forward and inverse kinematics, and modern software concepts through clear, structured written lessons.

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About this course

Robotics is transforming industries from manufacturing to healthcare, but mastering it requires a solid grasp of its foundational mathematics and mechanics. This course guides you from the historical origins of robotics to the core mathematical models used to control robotic systems. By the end of this course, you will transition from a curious beginner to a practitioner who understands how robots calculate movement, navigate space, and interface with modern software frameworks. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental history, terminology, and core components of modern robotic systems. - Apply coordinate transformations and spatial representation mathematics to describe robotic motion. - Master forward and inverse kinematics using the Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) convention. - Analyze differential motion and robot Jacobians for velocity and force propagation. - Explore modern robotics concepts, including path planning algorithms and ROS 2 framework basics. The course begins with essential terminology and foundational definitions before moving into the core mathematical concepts of spatial representation. You will then progress through step-by-step written explanations of kinematics, differential relations, and modern software paradigms. This course is designed for beginners and aspiring robotics enthusiasts, with no prior robotics experience required. Start reading today to build your foundational knowledge of robotics engineering.

Course contents

5 modules · 27 lessons · 2h 55m

1 Introduction and Fundamentals
Understand where robotics comes from and what a robot is made of. 5 lessons · 32 min
  1. The Epic of Robotics
    Discover the history of robotics, from ancient automata to modern industrial robots.    6 min
  2. The Language of Robots
    Master basic terminology such as degrees of freedom (DOF) and workspace.    6 min
  3. Anatomy of a Robot: Components
    Identify the structural elements, actuators, and sensors of a robotic system.    7 min
  4. Types of Robots and Morphology
    Differentiate between Cartesian, SCARA, anthropomorphic, and mobile robots.    6 min
  5. Actuators and Sensors: The Heart and Eyes
    Understand how motors create movement and how sensors perceive the environment.    7 min
2 Spatial Representation and Mathematics
Learn how to describe the position and orientation of a robot in space. 5 lessons · 32 min
  1. Coordinate Systems
    Understand the importance of fixed and mobile frames for locating a robot.    6 min
  2. Position Vectors and Translation
    Use vectors to describe the displacement of a point in space.    6 min
  3. Rotation Matrices
    Learn how to use matrices to represent the orientation of an object.    7 min
  4. Euler Angles and RPY
    Discover Roll-Pitch-Yaw methods to simplify spatial rotation.    6 min
  5. Homogeneous Transformations
    Combine translation and rotation into a single 4x4 matrix for efficient calculations.    7 min
3 Robot Kinematics
Model the movement of articulated chains. 6 lessons · 40 min
  1. Introduction to Kinematics
    Understand the relationship between joints and the end-effector position.    6 min
  2. The Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) Convention: The Basics
    Learn the rules for frame placement according to the DH method.    7 min
  3. DH Parameter Table
    Know how to extract the four key parameters (a, alpha, d, theta) of a robot.    7 min
  4. Calculating Forward Kinematics
    Multiply transformation matrices to find the final position of the robot.    7 min
  5. The Challenge of Inverse Kinematics
    Understand how to calculate joint angles to reach a given target.    7 min
  6. Analytical vs. Numerical Solutions
    Compare resolution methods for inverse kinematics.    6 min
4 Differential Motion and Statics
Analyze the velocities and forces transmitted by the robot. 5 lessons · 32 min
  1. Velocity in Space
    Understand the concept of linear and angular velocity of the end-effector.    6 min
  2. Introduction to the Jacobian Matrix
    Discover the mathematical tool that links joint velocities to Cartesian velocity.    7 min
  3. Velocity Propagation
    Calculate how the movement of each joint contributes to the overall motion.    6 min
  4. Jacobian and Static Forces
    Use the Jacobian to transform end-effector forces into motor torques.    7 min
  5. Robotic Singularities
    Identify configurations where the robot loses a degree of freedom or becomes uncontrollable.    6 min
5 Planning and Software Ecosystem
Learn how to make the robot move intelligently with ROS 2. 6 lessons · 39 min
  1. Trajectory Planning
    Differentiate a simple path from a smooth time-based trajectory.    7 min
  2. Joint Space vs. Cartesian Space
    Choose the right space to plan a movement based on the application.    6 min
  3. Obstacle Avoidance
    Introduction to basic concepts for collision-free navigation.    6 min
  4. What is ROS 2?
    Discover the industry standard for robotic software development.    7 min
  5. ROS 2 Architecture: Nodes and Topics
    Understand how robot components communicate with each other.    7 min
  6. Simulation Tools: Gazebo and RViz
    Explore tools to test your robot virtually before deployment.    6 min
Final project

Virtual Design of a 2-DOF Manipulator Arm

You will apply everything you have learned to model a two-joint robotic arm. You will need to define its DH parameters, calculate its final position, and sketch its integration into ROS 2.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
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  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
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  • ♾️ Lifetime access
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  • 📱 Phone or computer
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  • 💸 14-day refund
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  • ⚡ Short & focused
    2h 55m of practical content

Certificate of completion

Every course you complete on PickAClass issues a credential like this — original, with its own code, verifiable by URL, and detailed about what was actually demonstrated.

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Certificate of Mastery
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Name Surname
has successfully demonstrated mastery of
Foundations of Robotics: Kinematics and Core Concepts
Skills demonstrated
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Behavioral pattern analysis
Foundational
1.2 hrs
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Decision-architecture frameworks
Proficient
1.4 hrs
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A/B test design
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PickAClass — Name Surname
Foundations of Robotics: Kinematics and Core Concepts
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Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
Skill verification Verified Skill Path
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Issued under the academic standards of PickAClass. Skill levels reflect assessed performance against the course's competency rubric. This is an original credential of this platform.

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