Robotics

Course Overview

Explore the revolutionary world of autonomous machines with robotics expert Professor John Long. This 24-lecture journey demystifies how robots work, from their sensors and actuators to their decision-making processes, while examining their transformative impact across industries and daily life.

Video Lessons

Foundations of Robotics

1. The Arrival of Robot Autonomy (39 min)
   Introduction to robot components and behavioral autonomy
2. Robot Bodies and Trade-Offs (33 min)
   Deconstructing Roomba: The five essential robot parts
3. Robot Actuators and Movement (33 min)
   From spring motors to servo motors: How robots move

Sensing & Control

4. Robot Sensors and Simple Communication (31 min)
   How robots perceive the world through electromagnetic signals
5. Robot Controllers and Programming (31 min)
   The “brain” that transforms machines into autonomous robots
6. Human-Inspired Robot Planning (31 min)
   Navigation through simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)

Biological Inspirations

7. Animal-Inspired Robot Behavior (30 min)
   Behavior-based architecture from ants to advanced robots
8. Basic Skills for Making Robots (34 min)
   Hands-on guide to circuits, tools, and robot hacking

Applied Robotics

9. Designing a New Robot (31 min)
   Engineering process behind transphibian and surveillance robots
10. A Robot for Every Task? (29 min)
    Task-specific design considerations for domestic robots
11. Robot Arms in the Factory (31 min)
    Evolution of industrial robotics from pick-and-place to precision

Specialized Robots

12. Mobile Robots at Home (33 min)
    How Roomba, Looj, and MowBot adapt to household tasks
13. Hospital Robots and Neuroprosthetics (28 min)
    From Da Vinci surgical systems to mind-controlled limbs
14. Self-Driving Vehicles (30 min)
    The speed-safety tradeoffs in autonomous transportation

Extreme Environments

15. Flying Robots: From Autopilots to Drones (32 min)
    Gyroscopic sensors and drone technology advancements
16. Underwater Robots That Hover and Glide (33 min)
    How AUVs like Wave Glider conquer ocean challenges
17. Space Robots in Orbit and on Other Worlds (33 min)
    Robonaut 2 and Mars rovers pushing autonomy limits

Emerging Frontiers

18. Why Military Robots Are Different (33 min)
    The friend-foe dilemma in autonomous weapons systems
19. Extreme Robots (33 min)
    The physics behind walking/running legged robots
20. Swarm Robots (28 min)
    Simple robots creating complex collective behaviors

Future Directions

21. Living Robots? (29 min)
    Machines that “eat,” “grow,” and “evolve”
22. Social Robots (31 min)
    Baxter and the human-robot communication challenge
23. Humanoid Robots: Just like Us? (32 min)
    AI, bipedalism, and the uncanny valley
24. The Futures of Robotics (34 min)
    From companion bots to autonomous surgical systems