Modern computational tools enable sophisticated solutions to many robotics problems. However, using these tools traditionally requires students to be familiar with advanced concepts from probability theory, geometry, algorithms, and software engineering. This book is the first to present an introduction to robotics and perception for robots that exploits these new tools in a way that undergraduates with just a basic background can follow, while also teaching the theoretical foundations that underlie these tools and their use. Students are introduced to new concepts in context – each chapter is structured around an increasingly complex robotics system. Aiming to enable students to confidently construct large-scale robotics software solutions for real-world problems, the authors encourage hands-on learning. The GTSAM software library, used worldwide in academia and industry, is used extensively. Every section includes examples and figures produced by executable python code that can be incorporated by instructors into larger class projects, with example projects available online.

‘A refreshingly original introduction to robotics that flips the traditional textbook structure: the reader starts with the robot they want to build, and then learns the mathematics and algorithms need Introduction to Robotics and Perceptioned to make it work. Remarkably accessible, yet impressively broad, it takes students from the fundamentals to state-of-the-art topics in robotics.’

Luca Carlone - MIT

‘A masterclass in progressive pedagogy: each chapter tackles a harder robot and richer tools, from basic probability to SLAM to neural radiance fields, all grounded in runnable code. Dellaert and Hutchinson have written a book I wish had existed when I was a student, and one that I will now assign to students as an instructor!’

Tim Barfoot - University of Toronto

‘In the era of robotics and AI, this book provides a timely perspective on robotics education for both educators and students. Its clear sense-think-act framework, brought to life through engaging robot examples and hands-on coding exercises, presents fundamental robotics concepts in a lucid and intuitive manner.’

Ayoung Kim - Seoul National University