Foundations of Robotics: Representing and Planning Physical Tasks

Have you ever wondered how a robot understands its position, moves its limbs, and interacts with the physical world? To build or program effective robots, you must first master the fundamental mathematics and spatial representations that define their motion. This course guides you from absolute beginner concepts to a solid understanding of physical robot representation. You will learn how to translate real-world physical tasks into mathematical models, preparing you to work with modern robotic frameworks and simulation environments. What you'll learn: 1) Understand foundational robotics terminology, coordinate frames, and spatial transformations. 2) Represent 3D rotations and translations using rotation matrices and homogeneous transformations. 3) Model robot joints and links using forward and inverse kinematics. 4) Apply path planning concepts to guide robots safely through physical environments. 5) Explore modern framework architectures like ROS 2 and their role in robot communication. You will begin with basic definitions and coordinate systems before advancing to kinematic modeling and motion planning. Through clear written explanations and structured analytical exercises, you will build a strong conceptual foundation in robotics. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring robotics engineers, and software developers looking to understand the physical and mathematical foundations of robotics without requiring prior hardware. Start your journey into the world of robotics today by mastering the essential principles of physical representation.