STC16. Programming and Communication of a Robotic Arm
COURSE DURATION:
January 12–16, 2026
ECTS CREDITS
3
TIMETABLE:
9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 15:00
MODALITIES:
Online or on-site at ITCL.
This course is part of the European AI4CI Master Artificial Intelligence for Connected Industries.
CORE CONTENT:
Know the mathematical principles that govern the movement of a robot and learn to apply them in simple programs.
Learn to program simple trajectories and correct pre-programmed operations in a robot
Know the different types and levels of communication that a robot has with its environment
Acquire the necessary knowledge to carry out low-level communications with sensorised systems. Learn to carry out communications with PLCs, for example Siemens.
PREREQUISITES:
- Robotics Basics: Having a basic understanding of robotics concepts, such as the kinematics and dynamics of robotic arms, can be beneficial.
- Electronics Fundamentals: Understanding basic electronics concepts such as resistance, voltage, current, and having experience with common electronic components could be essential for working with robotic hardware.
- Having coding experience on Python or C++.
EVALUATION MODALITIES:
- Quizzes and short assimilation tests throughout the course proposed by the teacher.
Value: 50% - A project assignment to perform after the course. Perform individually o in a group.
Value: 50%
CORE CONTENT:
1.Mathematical and Mechanical Principles of Robot Operation
In this section, we will teach you about the main types of articulated robotic arms and their key differences. We will study the primary components of these robots and the mathematical concepts that govern their movement.
2.Communication Languages: Differences in Programming Across Brands
This part will cover the most important communication paradigms used to interface robot controllers with other industrial equipment. We will cover on how robots communicate with their external control systems (PLCs and buses profibus, profinet, opc).
We will discuss their advantages and disadvantages, the types of industries in which they are used, and provide examples.
3.Low-Level Programming
a)Low-Level Programming Controlling a Robotic Arm
In this session, we will focus on controlling a robotic arm using the industrial programming language RAPID, which is used in ABB robots. Participants will learn how to create basic motion routines, define coordinate systems, and interact with the robot’s controller. Additionally, we will explore how to execute point-to-point movements, handle simple input/output signals,
b.Controlling a Robotic Arm with Python and ROS
In this session, we will focus on controlling a robotic arm using the Python programming language. We will translate the knowledge from the first session into Python libraries to control a robotic arm platform in a simulated environment using Gazebo. We will also cover the basics of ROS (Robot Operating System) with robotic arms and compare it with other industrial robotics systems.
4. Basics of Computer Vision and Communication with Robotic Arms for Smart Operations
We will cover the fundamentals of classic 2D and 3D computer vision techniques to detect desired patterns in real industrial setups, enabling robotic arms to reach or avoid those patterns. We will also include methods for performing hand-eye calibration so that the robot’s coordinate system is synchronized with the vision systems.
Supervised Lab:
Execution of a practical exercise in ABB RobotStudio where the robot controller and the robotic arm are connected using OPC
In this practical exercise, we will use RobotStudio to simulate an ABB robot and establish communication between the virtual robot controller and an OPC server. We will configure the required controller variables and create digital signals to enable real-time data exchange. After that, we will link these signals to an external OPC client to monitor the robot status and send simple commands. Finally, we will validate the communication by checking that the actions sent from the OPC client are reflected in the robotic arm movements inside RobotStudio, replicating an industrial automation environment.
- Basics of 2D Computer Vision:
– Types of 2D representations and how to process them (2 hours) (Python)
– Detecting objects by shape and colour: feature extraction techniques and pixel clustering (2 hours) (Python)
– Exercise to detect objects in 2D images in given industrial scenarios using the acquired knowledge.
– Notion of advanced computer vision: basic theory and interesting cases (1-hour class) - Basic Principles of 3D Computer Vision:
– Basic types of 3D data and which sensors to use to obtain them (2 hours) (Python)
– Approaches to process 3D data: depth, colour, shape, and orientation (2 hours) (Python)
– Exercise to detect objects in 3D images in given industrial scenarios using the acquired knowledge. Prepare a presentation explaining the approach (homework - Basics of Control of Gazebo Simulator or Other Simulation Environment (2 hours)
- Hand-Eye Calibration: Basics and Example (2 hours)
CALENDAR:
PEDAGOGICAL OBJECTIVES:
The goal of this STC is to learn the theoretical and practical principles that govern the movement of a robot and how to apply them in simple and programs used in industry. This includes programming simple trajectories in a robotic arm, correcting pre-programmed operations in a robot using frequently used tools in industry—either open-source or brand proprietary—and understanding the different communication strategies that a robot could have with its environment. We will also cover the basic principles of computer vision for robotic arms to perform smart operations with articulated robots.
REQUIRED TEACHING MATERIAL:
The required material in terms of hardware and software will be provided during the course.
