To explore the basics of robotics, University of Reading is offering free online course as a part of BBC’s Make it Digital initiative. This 4 week MOOC is proposed via FutureLearn. The course will start from September 21, 2015. This course includes video content and other visual teaching methods. If you want to learn more and don’t have high qualification in Cybermaics this course is good for you. The course will facilitate you with the information of the basics of robot design through a series of simulations.

Course Details In Brief

Level: Introductory
Length: 4 weeks
Workload: 3 hours pw
Subject:  Robotics
Institution:  BBC, University of Reading & FutureLearn
Languages: English
Price: Free
Certificate Available: Yes
Session: Starts September 21, 2015

Why Choose FutureLearn MOOC?  

This course is taken from Make it Digital collection – part of the BBC’s major initiative to inspire digital creativity. After completing this course applicant will have good knowledge of Robotics. This course includes video content and other visual teaching methods. As such, blind and visually impaired students may need a helper. As one of Make it Digital’s 50 partners, FutureLearn is providing high quality online learning to young people, teachers or anyone with an interest in improving their digital creativity skills.

Course Introduction

Robots today are roving Mars, collecting data in dangerous environments, hoovering our floors, lifting patients in hospital, building cars and entertaining us in films. And, if you share Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking’s world view, the super intelligent ones may one day bring about the end of the human race.

We’ve all heard about them, but how many of us know what makes a robot a robot? And can anyone get a robot to do a particular task? This course explores the basics of robotics. It doesn’t assume any prior knowledge and you don’t need to own your own robot to take part.

The exercise steps in this course will work using Chrome, Safari, Opera and Firefox browsers. They will also work on Internet Explore 9, 10 and 11 – however, earlier versions of this browser will not support these steps. You must have JavaScript enabled. Please be aware that this course contains video clips that include sequences of flickering/flashing lights which might affect learners who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. The course will expand on the basis of introduction, its history, depth studies etc. Through our weekly video feature, “Meet the Robots at Reading,” you’ll find out more about our collection: from machines built by our students from scratch; to Baxter (the first of a new generation of smarter, more adaptive interactive industrial robots); to one or two special guests, who you may recognize from elsewhere.

Make it Digital is the BBC’s major, UK-wide initiative to inspire a new generation to get creative with coding, programming and digital technology.

 You Will Learn

By the end of the course, you will learn:
– the history, anatomy and intelligence of robots with this free online course

-Test drive robots using exciting simulations

For detailed information go through FutureLearn page.