Modern Robotics, Course 6: Capstone Project, Mobile Manipulation (Coursera)

Modern Robotics, Course 6: Capstone Project, Mobile Manipulation (Coursera)

The capstone project of the Modern Robotics specialization is on mobile manipulation: simultaneously controlling the motion of a wheeled mobile base and its robot arm to achieve a manipulation task. This project integrates several topics from the specialization, including trajectory planning, odometry for mobile robots, and feedback control. Beginning from the Modern Robotics software library provided to you (written in Python, Mathematica, and MATLAB), and software you have written for previous courses, you will develop software to plan and control the motion of a mobile manipulator to perform a pick and place task.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will test your software on the KUKA youBot, a mobile manipulator consisting of an omnidirectional mecanum-wheel mobile base, a 5-joint robot arm, and a gripper. The state-of-the-art, cross-platform V-REP robot simulator will be used to simulate the task.
Course 6 of 6 in the Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction to the Capstone Project, and Milestone 1
Odometry for wheeled mobile robots and its use in a kinematic simulator for the youBot omnidirectional mobile robot with four mecanum wheels.

WEEK 2
Reference Trajectory Generation
Generating a reference trajectory in SE(3) for the end-effector of a mobile manipulator to achieve a pick-and-place task.

WEEK 3
Feedforward Control
Feedforward control of the end-effector of a mobile manipulator to drive the end-effector along a reference trajectory.

WEEK 4
Completing the Project and Your Submission
Feedforward-plus-feedback control of the end-effector of a mobile manipulator to stabilize a reference trajectory for the end-effector.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review (Coursera)

The purpose of this course is to review the material covered in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to enable the student to pass it. It will be presented in modules corresponding to the FE topics, particularly those in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. Each module will review main concepts, illustrate them with examples, and provide extensive practice problems.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Intro to Acoustics (Part 1) (Coursera) Coursera
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - KAIST

Intro to Acoustics (Part 1) (Coursera)

This course introduces acoustics by using the concept of impedance. In the previous part, the course starts with vibrations and waves, demonstrating how vibration can be envisaged as a kind of wave, mathematically and physically. They are realized by one-dimensional examples, which provide mathematically simplest but clear enough physical insights. Then the part 1 ends with explaining waves on a flat surface of discontinuity, demonstrating how propagation characteristics of waves change in space where there is a distributed impedance mismatch.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Architecting Smart IoT Devices (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Architecting Smart IoT Devices (Coursera)

This course will teach you how to develop an embedded systems device. In order to reduce the time to market, many pre-made hardware and software components are available today. You'll discover all the available hardware and software components, such as processor families, operating systems, boards and networks. You'll also learn how to actually use and integrate these components.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
3D Printing Software (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3D Printing Software (Coursera)

This course will demonstrate how to use 3D printing software to create digital designs that can be turned into physical objects. It will also demonstrate how 3D scanners work to turn physical objects into digital designs. This course is hands-on in nature and will provide step-by-step instructions to guide you through two popular 3D modeling programs, Tinkercad and Fusion 360.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Advanced Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Three Dimensional (3D) Motion (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Advanced Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Three Dimensional (3D) Motion (Coursera)

This course is an advanced study of bodies in motion as applied to engineering systems and structures. We will study the dynamics of rigid bodies in 3D motion. This will consist of both the kinematics and kinetics of motion. Kinematics deals with the geometrical aspects of motion describing position, velocity, and acceleration, all as a function of time. Kinetics is the study of forces acting on these bodies and how it affects their motion.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Particles and Bodies in 2D Motion (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Particles and Bodies in 2D Motion (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to the study of bodies in motion as applied to engineering systems and structures. We will study the dynamics of particle motion and bodies in rigid planar (2D) motion. This will consist of both the kinematics and kinetics of motion. Kinematics deals with the geometrical aspects of motion describing position, velocity, and acceleration, all as a function of time. Kinetics is the study of forces acting on these bodies and how it affects their motion.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Matlab and Simulink Basics (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Matlab and Simulink Basics (Coursera)

Matlab and Simulink Basics is a meticulously crafted course offering a comprehensive introduction to Matlab's programming environment and Simulink's modeling capabilities. This course is tailored for individuals keen on bolstering their skills in these indispensable tools for engineering, science, and research domains. From laying down foundational concepts to delving into practical applications, participants will embark on a journey that hones their abilities to manipulate data, design models, and interpret results with Matlab and Simulink.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks