Robotics: From Machines to Autonomous Systems

A self-paced general robotics course that builds from physical mechanisms and electrical power through embedded control, sensing, feedback, mobile motion, localization, manipulation, autonomous behavior, perception, distributed robot systems, human control, reliability, and a final autonomous-systems architecture defense. FRC is treated as a separate applied competition ecosystem; ROS 2 is treated as a later distributed-robotics specialization.

Audience: 9-12
Structure: 18 units
Delivery: Self-paced

Course overview

This self-paced robotics course builds from mechanisms and power through embedded control, sensing, feedback, motion, localization, manipulation, autonomy, perception, distributed systems, human authority, reliability, and a final architecture defense. FRC and ROS 2 remain distinct later specializations.

Audience and pace

Grades 9–12. Eighteen open-progress Units use internal route slots rather than calendar deadlines; move forward when Unit evidence is complete.

What you will learn

Connect mechanical, electrical, software, sensing, control, and human-safety decisions into one robot system.
Reason about measurement, uncertainty, feedback, autonomy, failure recovery, and verification.
Defend an architecture from requirements through physical and software evidence.

Course structure

Units progress through robot systems, motion, force/gearing, structure, power/actuation, embedded control, behavior, sensors, PID, mobile motion, localization, manipulators, planning, vision, distributed communication, safety, reliability, and review.

Learning evidence and assessment

Learners build diagrams, decision records, calculations, test plans, supplied-evidence analyses, and design defenses. Activities may use hardware, simulation, or documented-analysis paths as appropriate.

Expectations and boundaries

Hardware work follows instructor safety procedures. Do not energize, modify, or operate equipment outside approval; distinguish simulated, framework, runtime, and physical evidence honestly.

Capstone

The Autonomous Systems Design Review connects requirements, mechanisms, power, sensing, control, autonomy, human authority, recovery, and verification evidence.

Access and support

The core reader is self-paced. Approved hardware is optional where a simulation or documented analysis provides equivalent learning evidence.