Programming Robots - Bootcamp 2026
Description
- Location: Green FabLab HSRW Kamp-Lintfort (Friedrichstraße 2a, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort)
- Dates: 2-6 March
- Time: 09:00-17:00 each day
- Participation fee: Free of charge
Sessions Layout
Below you’ll find the timetable outlining the session times, scheduled breaks, and the one-hour lunch window, so you can easily plan your day at a glance.
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 09:00 - 10:30 | Session block |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | Break |
| 10:45 - 12:15 | Session block |
| 12:15 - 13:15 | Launch break* |
| 13:15 - 14:45 | Session block |
| 14:45 - 15:00 | Break |
| 15:00 - 17:00 | Session block |
*: Please note that lunch will not be provided during the bootcamp. You are welcome to bring your own lunch or use the one-hour lunch break to purchase food nearby. We will also provide designated spaces within our facilities where you can enjoy your lunch, and a microwave will be available in case you would like to warm up your food. In addition, we will set up a shared snack table during the break, where anyone who wishes can place snacks to share. I will personally ensure that coffee, sugar, and hot water (for making tea) are available . Bringing something to share is completely optional, there is no obligation at all, and you are of course welcome to bring personal snacks for yourself as well.
Schedule Overview
| Session | Date | Topic Topics | Session Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 2026.03.02 | - General information about the Bootcamp - Introduction to ROS - Workspace - Managing ROS packages | Session 1 |
| S2 | 2026.03.04 | - ROS nodes - ROS interfaces - ROS Topics | Session 2 |
| S3 | 2026.03.04 | - Warm-up task - Services - Actions | Session 3 |
| S4 | 2026.03.05 | - Ecosystem and Report Review - Task: Action Client - QoS - Arguments, ROS Arguments and Node Parameter | Session 4 |
| S5 | 2026.03.06 | - Warm-up task: keyboard - Launch System - Visualization tools (RVIZ and others) - Simulator (Gazebo) | Session 5 |
Prerequisites & Setup
- Python: Basic Python skills, including basic OOP concepts. If you’d like a refresher, see Think Python (3rd Edition) by Allen B. Downey.
- Operating system requirement: Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop(required for the exercises and simulator).
- Recommended: Native Ubuntu installation (dual-boot is possible but can be impractical for daily use over long term).
- Windows option: You may use Windows 11 (22H2 or newer) with WSL2 running Ubuntu 22.04 (required to properly run and render Ubuntu graphics applications such as the simulator) but your need to ⚠️ expect extremely low performance in simulation ⚠️.
- Virtual machine: Not recommended due to common graphics driver/simulation issues. If you still choose to use one, VMware Workstation Pro (free for personal, non-commercial use) is the suggested option.
- macOS: not supported.
# What to Bring
Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop (with the setup above) to work along during the exercises. Note: You do not have to install ROS before-hand, we will do it together during the first session.