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Master the skills you need to program robots and other mechanical systems. Interesting examples and clear explanations guide you through programming robot arms, robots that drive and fly, and mobile manipulators.
In
Robotics for Programmers you will learn how to:
- Design robot software systems using standard software engineering skills
- Control real and simulated robots using the Robot Operating System framework (ROS2)
- Apply universal robotics principles to ROS and other frameworks
- Develop software for robot arms, driving and flying robots, and mobile manipulators
- Work with a robot’s sensors, sensing, planning, acting, and actuators
- Build for all layers of a robot software stack from low-level close to the hardware, to core robot algorithms and services to application software
- No special hardware or mechanical engineering skills are required to complete the examples
Robotics for Programmers introduces the unique aspects of programming robotic systems using examples and terminology familiar to software engineers. In this enlightening and entertaining book, you’ll learn to combine software components into working solutions for jobs like automated assembly and environmental sensing. As you go, you’ll master robot programming techniques that will upgrade your software engineering skills for complex architectures and related areas like embedded real-time systems.
about the technology
It’s thrilling to see your code make a real, physical connection with the world. Programming robots no longer requires sophisticated electronics knowledge and low-level languages. Using standard tools like Python along with open source frameworks like ROS2—the Robot Operating System framework—you can control a wide range of mechanical systems. You just need to learn how robots differ from other software applications.
about the book
Robotics for Programmers teaches you the patterns of robotics software through hands-on examples and clear, jargon-free guidance. It relates new ideas about robotics to programming concepts you’re already familiar with, so you can easily make the jump from traditional software to robot development.
Unlike other books that feature toy projects and unrealistic examples, this practical book centers on the techniques you’ll use in real robotics applications. You’ll learn by simulating factory floor robots, survey drones, and even a multi-function mobile manipulator! The examples use the accessible ROS2 framework, and all core concepts and algorithms are taught in a way you can apply to the proprietary software you’ll encounter in robotics companies. By the time you’re finished, you’ll have the programming skills to start developing serious robots.
about the reader
For readers familiar with developing software. Examples in Python.
about the author
Andreas Bihlmaier is the Chief Software Architect at ABB Robotics. He obtained his PhD in the field of AI and robotics from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - Intelligent Process Automation and Robotics (IPR) lab. After working at Google Research in 2015, Andreas returned to Germany to co-found the robotics startup robodev GmbH. In 2019 he received the "Innovator under 35" award by Technology Review for his work in modular easy-to-use robotics.