4 free online robotics courses for high schoolers 

AI and robotics have taken the centre stage in the domain of technology. These fields need a very skilled workforce and to create the required talent pool, there is a wide range of robotics courses available now. However, it can be a little tricky to choose the best one that is beginner friendly. Keeping this in mind, tech giants and global universities are turning up with lucrative courses that will help create a foundation for these budding tech enthusiasts. Here’s a list of 4 such courses for robotics aspirants.  

Building a Future with Robots  
By: FutureLearn 
FutureLearn, an online course-learning platform, in collaboration with The University of Sheffield, have introduced a course in robotics where current as well as future developments in the field are explored. It is suitable for individuals who are 16 years or above and are available for a period of 3 weeks. In this course, candidates will learn how robots sense the world around them, how robotics derives inspiration from the real and natural world and how robots do not intend to replace humans but work alongside them to make their lives and tasks easier and better. Other topics include basic challenges of robotic design, robotics principles and research. This course is suitable for anyone who is interested to learn about the role that robotic will play in the future.  

Artificial Intelligence for Robotics  
By: Udacity 
Udacity, an US-based non-profit educational organisation in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology have founded a robotics course in which one can learn how to program all major systems of a robotics car from industry experts led by autonomous driving teams from tech giants such as Google and Stanford University. This 2-month long course is suitable for individuals aged 12 years and above. In this course, one can learn about the basics of AI, such as probabilistic inference, planning, search, localization, tracking and control – all with an emphasis on robotics. Candidates will also be provided with extensive study resources and assignments for them to try and build their own self-driving cars.  

Robotics Specialization  
By: Coursera 
Coursera, in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania, has introduced a Robotics Specialization course that is a 7-month long certification course for 12 years and above. This beginners’ level course will teach youngsters the concepts of robot flight and movement, how they perceive their environment, adjust their movements, avoid obstacles, navigate difficult terrains and complete tasks ranging from construction to disaster recovery. Candidates will gain hands-on experience as they will be exposed to real-world prototypes such as how robots are applied in disaster management situations, how they help in healthcare sector and so on.  

Introducing Robotic Process Automation  
By: LinkedIn Learning 
In this course introduced by LinkedIn Learning, robotics expert Ian Barkin trains youngsters on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and explains its pros and cons and what to keep in mind when using it. Although this 3-month long certification course is for 16 years and above, its chapter quizzes, projects and assignments are at an intermediate level suitable only for individuals who know a thing or two about the basics of robotics and automation. Here, candidates learn about benefits and uses of RPA in real life scenarios.