Introduction to Autonomous Robots: Mechanisms, Sensors, Actuators, and Algorithms

Description

"Introduction to Autonomous Robots: Mechanisms, Sensors, Actuators, and Algorithms" Authors: Nikolaus Correll, Bradley Hayes, Christoffer Heckman, and Alessandro Roncone "Introduction to Autonomous Robots" is a widely used, open-access textbook that offers a comprehensive and approachable introduction to the fundamental principles and technologies involved in building autonomous robotic systems. Written by Nikolaus Correll, Bradley Hayes, Christoffer Heckman, and Alessandro Roncone, the book is designed for upper-level undergraduate and beginning graduate students in robotics, computer science, or engineering. It provides a well-structured, multidisciplinary foundation that reflects the real-world complexity of autonomous robots, covering both hardware and software components. The book is organized around four core pillars: mechanisms, sensors, actuators, and algorithms, which together form the backbone of any robotic system. The mechanisms section explores the physical structures of robots, such as wheels, arms, and linkages, explaining how design decisions affect mobility and functionality. The sensors and actuators chapters detail how robots perceive their environments and physically interact with them, introducing key technologies like lidar, cameras, encoders, and motors. A major strength of the book lies in its thorough treatment of algorithms that enable autonomy. It covers topics such as localization, mapping, path planning, and control, including essential algorithms like SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), probabilistic robotics methods, PID control, and A* pathfinding. These topics are presented in an intuitive and digestible way, often supported by examples, figures, and pseudocode to help readers grasp the implementation details. In addition to technical depth, the authors emphasize system integration and real-world implementation, preparing readers for the challenges of designing complete robotic systems. The textbook frequently references ROS (Robot Operating System), encouraging students to explore and apply concepts in simulation and real-world environments using modern robotics frameworks. What sets this book apart is its open, educational tone and practical structure—it balances rigorous explanation with accessibility, making it suitable for classrooms, labs, or independent learners. It encourages hands-on experimentation and conceptual clarity, and its modular structure allows instructors or readers to adapt the content to various learning goals. By combining theoretical insights with real-world applications, Introduction to Autonomous Robots serves as a foundational text for anyone aiming to understand how intelligent robots are built, programmed, and deployed in a wide range of applications—from home service robots to self-driving cars.