Robots are everywhere, from the assembly line of major factories to the vacuums cleaning the living room carpet.
As big tech companies continue to innovate, they are only becoming increasingly woven into our daily lives. Amazon recently expanded the Prime Air drone delivery service globally, while Boston Dynamics’ robot Atlas, which pushes the boundaries of mobility and automation, will soon be up for sale.
All this progress means that there is much demand for robotics engineers who can create and maintain such technologies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market for mechanical engineers, the job title under which robotic engineers fall, will have increased by 11% from 2023 to 2033 — much faster than average.
Robotics engineers use a blend of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering skills to design, build, and program robots for different applications. The role requires a knowledge of hardware, such as circuits and sensors, as well as coding for computer vision, AI, and control systems.
If you’re interested in delving into robotics for the first time, or are a STEM professional looking to apply your existing knowledge to a new field, you might want to consider enrolling in an appropriate online course. TechRepublic takes a look at the top six robotics engineering courses available in 2024 for learners with different experiences, goals, and budgets.
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Coursera’s “Robotics Specialization” offers a solid introduction to key areas of robotic engineering, such as robot mechanics, aerial robotics, perception, and mobility, without requiring any experience. It includes hands-on programming exercises using tools such as Matlab, and culminates with a Capstone project that involves programming a robot to fly and grasp objects at home. The content is prepared and taught by academics from the University of Pennsylvania, and the course is self-paced.
$79/£61 per month after a seven-day free trial.
120 hours.
None.
Matlab, Raspberry Pi, Python, computer vision, motion planning.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beginner-friendly. | Theory heavy. |
| Capstone project included. | Published eight years ago, so some elements could be outdated. |
The Robotics Operating System, ROS, is an open-source framework that provides tools and libraries for developing, simulating, and controlling robotic systems — the basis of robotics programming. If you already have a strong background in math and basic knowledge of C++ programming, the Robotics Software Engineer nanodegree on Udacity is a good option for learning ROS. It covers localization, path planning, search algorithms, and more in four months-worth of content. Learners complete multiple robot-building projects using Gazebo, ROS, and C++ to control its actions.
$249/£194 per month.
Four months.
Basic C++, linear algebra, basic descriptive statistics, basic calculus, Lidar.
Gazebo, robotics operating system, search algorithms, path planning, mapping, SLAM.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides practical experience in industry-standard tools like ROS and Gazebo. | Requires many prerequisites. |
| Offers an active mentor and learner community for feedback. | Expensive. |
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Robotic Process Automation, RPA, is the use of software robots to automate repetitive, rules-based tasks, while UiPath is an RPA platform. The following Udemy course teaches learners who have encountered these kinds of tasks in their job or studies how to develop a robot that can assist with them. The course is entirely project-based, with content delivered through the automation of seven real-world business problems. The course works well for those who “learn by doing.”
$109.99/£59.99.
30.5 hours.
None.
RPA, Uipath.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Content taught through automating real-world tasks. | Does not cover Robotic Enterprise Framework, which is used widely in industry. |
| Content is regularly updated. | Windows device needed, not suitable for Macs. |
This Udacity nanodegree is designed for learners that already have a solid grounding in programming and math but want to apply their knowledge to robotics. It is particularly appropriate for those looking to expand their knowledge of computer vision, the field of AI that enables computers to interpret visual information from the world, like photos and videos. Content is delivered within the context of autonomous vehicle engineering, going through lane detection, image processing, convolutional neural networks, deep learning, and much more. Udacity partnered with Waymo for this program, ensuring that lessons and projects are industry-relevant.
$249/£194 per month.
Four months.
Matplotlib, basic calculus, intermediate Python, C++, linear algebra.
Lidar, C++, computer vision, neural networks, TensorFlow, object detection, localisation.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Content delivered in the practical context of self-driving cars. | Requires several prerequisites. |
| Developed with industry leader Waymo. | Expensive. |
Circuits form the foundation of all robotics, so having an understanding of the hardware aspect can significantly enhance one’s ability to design and troubleshoot robotic systems. “Electricity & electronics” on Udemy teaches practical skills like soldering and troubleshooting on top of theoretical concepts. In following along with the course, learners will build a number of different functional circuits like light flashers, sound buzzers, and a servo controller that reads the electrical impulses from your arm muscles. Access to electronic parts and a breadboard is required.
$149/£59.99.
11 hours.
Basic maths skills, and access to a breadboard, multimeter, soldering iron, solder, and wire.
Circuits, servo motors, electricity theoretics,
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Suitable for beginners. | Requires additional electronic components. |
| Hands-on, project-based learning. | Some advanced theoretical concepts lack depth. |
Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics. It consists of microcontroller boards and a simple development environment, allowing users to write code to control components like sensors, motors, and lights. Its user-friendly interface and large community make it a popular starting point for beginners looking to get into robotics. Udemy’s “Arduino for Beginners” is a highly reviewed course that covers everything from basic coding to building your first circuits through 20 hands-on activities. Each activity builds on the last and culminates with a Capstone where you create an interactive obstacle detection application.
$94.99/£54.99.
15 hours.
No academic prerequisites. Arduino boards and other components are not essential but recommended. A full kit list is provided for free, if you wish to purchase the necessary hardware.
Arduino, C++.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hands-on, project-based learning. | Subtitles are inaccurate. |
| No hardware or prior knowledge required. | Some learners say the instructor goes quickly, so some prior programming knowledge would be beneficial. |
Robotics engineering is often deemed a challenging field because of its multidisciplinary nature, combining elements of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. Designing and building the physical parts of robots requires an understanding of materials, dynamics, and mechanics, as well as circuitry and power systems. Programming and algorithms are needed for robot control and machine learning aspects. Different sets of technical skills are required for each facet of robotics, meaning that there is a steep learning curve. Furthermore, the fundamentals are based heavily on math concepts, which some learners find difficult. However, with a strong interest and a desire to learn, robotics is not out of reach to anybody, and trying a beginner-friendly course is a good place to start.
Yes. The average salary for an experienced robotics engineer is about $150,000 per year in the U.S. and £54,000 per year in the U.K., while the average annual salaries of employees in the two countries are $64,000 and £35,000 respectively.
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Yes, robotics relies heavily on coding. Programmers write code to control robot movements, process sensor data, and implement algorithms for tasks like navigation and object recognition. Languages like Python, C++, and ROS — all of which are covered in the listed courses — are typically employed to make robots function autonomously and efficiently. However, it is possible to work in robotics engineering and focus on the hardware side, which involves less coding. For instance, you could design the circuitry that controls the robots components, as is taught in “Electricity & electronics – Robotics, learn by building” on Udemy.
When assessing online courses, we examined the reliability and popularity of the provider, the depth and variety of topics offered, the practicality of the information, the cost and the duration. The courses and certification programs vary considerably, so be sure to choose the option that is right for your goals and learning style.
