Most roboticists spend months slogging through the basic tutorials just to get started. I'll give you everything you need to get started up front, and then we will slowly peel back the layers to understand the details.
Becoming a roboticist is easier than you think, but most will fall into imposter syndrome. Break imposter syndrome by simply building robots. When you look at the robot you have created, you will know you have become a roboticist.
This course holds you accountable by making you publish your work to LinkedIn or Twitter every day. This not only makes it likely you will complete the course, but it helps to build your profile as a roboticist. By simulating robots that solve real world challenges, and sharing your ideas about them, you will become noticed by companies who build robots and you will make friends along the way.
If you take this course during a cohort, you can learn together with friends. My best memories of learning robotics has been when I've done it with friends, be it during an intensive summer school or simply hanging out with my PhD buddies. Learning with friends is the best!
Most Robotics Operating System courses are Linux first. In this course we will do everything using Windows 11 thanks to Docker and Windows Subsystem For Linux.
Most robotics tutorials start with the boring stuff like how to setup a package or what linux version to use.
This course teaches it in the reverse order. We will start by building a robot and as we need to know about packages and configurations we will explore them together.
At the end you will have a practical understanding of how robotics works, but with the right context of how it fits into your robot build.
It's important to be able to create your own robot models. This includes the environment as well as the actual robot model. We will use FreeCAD to create models, Blender to add finishing touches and Scaniverse iPhone app to capture 3D scenes for use in simulation.
Start the challenge now!
Chat with me on Discord to get help and meet others along their journey.
To help build your robotics habit, you'll get videos explaining everything, and a small daily publishing task every day.
There are weekly live calls where students could ask me questions and get mentoring from me.
It's hard to learn robotics while also trying to setup your computer.
To prepare, lets setup your system.
This week we will dive into how the Robotics Operating System (ROS 2) works, as well as simulate our first robot, the Krytn coffee delivery robot.
In this week we will dive into how to control robot arms, using the MACI robot arm as a case study.
In these final 2 weeks we will put all we have learned into practice and build a new robot to simulate.
The course offers a great start & ideas on how to implements robotics. Great fundamentals in the course, being simulation first lets us learn without having to buy hardware. The delivery method was great, and it was great to be part of the first group
Being able to do ROS through windows is soo much easier. Many people just don't know how to use Linux. I was so happy when I opened Gazebo on the first day, I thought "wow I never thought I would get to this stage!"
The best part was explaining the pipeline of creating the model in FreeCAD and then putting it into simulation. I'd never tried that before.
4-robots-in-4-weeks was an amazing course, diving into Gazebo and ROS2 was an exciting challenge. John's detailed explanations, combined with hands-on practice, demystified these powerful tools. I learned how to build robots on FreeCAD, convert them to URDF, simulate in Gazebo, navigate complex environments, and leverage the robust capabilities of ROS2. This practical knowledge has equipped me to tackle real-world robotics projects with confidence. What sets this course apart from the others is how John guides you to showcase your work on social media platforms (LinkedIn, X etc), as learning in public is the way forward and boosts your self-confidence and work-profile. If you're looking to expand your robotics knowledge and unlock your potential, I wholeheartedly recommend John's course. It's an investment that will pay off in dividends, both personally and professionally. Thank you, John, for igniting my passion for robotics and equipping me with the tools to turn that passion into reality!
Hi, I'm John Vial. I have a PhD in robotics from the Australian Centre Of Field Robotics. I have worked in autonomous systems teams for large Iron Ore Mining companies and I have worked in startups and small robotics businesses.
I have strong background in the Robotics Operating System. I want to help anyone become a social roboticist as humanity will require more and more robots to combat climate change.