Introduction to Autonomous Robotics with Arduino
A cohort-based, hands-on course. Learn the foundations of autonomous robotics using Arduino — sensors, actuators, motor control, and autonomous decision-making — and finish with a working robot you built yourself.
About This Course
This is a hands-on robotics course, not a lecture series. Each session involves building and testing real circuits — by the end of the course you will have assembled and programmed an autonomous robot that uses sensors to navigate its environment without human input.
The course is structured across four sessions. Session 1 gets you comfortable with Arduino. Session 2 introduces sensors. Session 3 covers motor control and movement. Session 4 brings it all together with autonomous behaviour — obstacle avoidance, line following, and sensor-driven decision-making.
No prior programming or electronics experience is required, but completing the Introduction to Electronics course first is strongly recommended.
What You'll Need
- •Arduino Uno or compatible board
- •Ultrasonic and IR sensors
- •DC motors, motor driver, chassis
- •Breadboard and jumper wires
Prerequisites
- •Introduction to Electronics (recommended)
- •Basic programming concepts helpful but not required
Who This Course Is For
Beginner robotics enthusiasts
You're fascinated by robots and want a structured, practical introduction that ends with something you actually built.
Students and young makers
You want real hardware experience — not just simulations — in a supported, cohort-based learning environment.
Developers adding hardware skills
You write software and want to expand into physical computing — understanding how code interacts with real sensors and motors.
What You'll Learn
Arduino Programming
Write sketches that control hardware — from blinking LEDs to sensor-driven motor control.
Sensors & Input
Use ultrasonic and IR sensors to gather real-world data and make your robot aware of its environment.
Motor Control
Drive DC motors with a motor driver module, control speed with PWM, and build a functional drive platform.
Autonomous Decision-Making
Write code that responds to sensor input in real time — obstacle avoidance, line following, and navigation logic.
Hardware Wiring & Assembly
Connect sensors, motors, and drivers to a microcontroller correctly and safely — reading datasheets and diagrams.
Debugging Physical Systems
Troubleshoot hardware and software together — a skill that's different from pure software debugging and essential for robotics.
Course Curriculum
Session 1Getting Started with Arduino
- •What is Arduino and why it's the ideal platform for robotics beginners
- •Setting up the Arduino IDE and uploading your first sketch
- •Digital output: blinking an LED and understanding pin control
- •Breadboard wiring basics and safe circuit building
- •Reading digital input: buttons, switches, and logic levels
Session 2Sensors & Input
- •Reading analog inputs with analogRead()
- •Ultrasonic sensors (HC-SR04) for distance measurement
- •IR sensors for line detection and proximity sensing
- •Interpreting and filtering sensor data in code
- •Making decisions in Arduino code based on sensor readings
Session 3Motion & Actuators
- •DC motors and how they work
- •Motor driver modules: L298N and L293D
- •PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and speed control
- •Servo motors: controlled angle rotation
- •Wiring and programming a simple two-motor drive platform
Session 4Autonomous Behaviour
- •Obstacle detection and avoidance algorithms
- •Line following: reading IR sensors and steering to a line
- •Combining multiple sensors for smarter robot behaviour
- •Tuning and calibrating sensor-driven control loops
- •Full build: assembling and testing your autonomous robot
Resources & Links
Events & Registration
Join the next robotics cohort
Cohort-based and hands-on — register on Luma to secure your place in the next session.
Register on Luma