8 Online Courses to become Robotics Engineer

I've compiled a list of 8 online certificate programs that will teach you the core skills needed to become/switch/pivot/transition to robotics engineering (robotics software engineering) in 6-12 months depending on your level and background.

🆓Most courses offered by Coursera are free to audit. Please watch minutes 10-12 of the following YouTube video to learn how. Note that you will have to pay to get the certificate, but auditing is free.

📺📺If you prefer a video format, consider watching this video for the top 5 online course series/programs:

General Robotics Engineer/Robotics Software Engineer

1- Robotics Specialization offered by Coursera

Who is this for? Suitable for beginners who want a broad introduction to robotics and aspire to work as robotics engineers on drones, mobile robots, and other robotic systems.
Type: Certificated program.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: No particular background is necessary, however, some knowledge of engineering and mathematics is helpful.
Courses: Aerial Robotics, Computational Motion Planning, Mobility, Perception, Estimation and Learning.
Estimated Time: 3 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

2- Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control Specialization offered by Coursera

Who is this for? best for engineers who want to develop control and motion planning for mobile robots and robot arms (industrial robots/Co-bots) and work for a variatey of robotics companies from Surgical Robotics to humanoid robotics.
Type: Certificate Specialization (Coursera's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Intermediate level
Prerequisites: Freshman-level physics, Linear algebra, calculus, and A little bit of programming experience.
Courses: Foundations of Robot Motion, Robot Kinematics, Robot Dynamics, Robot Motion Planning and Control, Robot Manipulation and Wheeled Mobile Robots, Mobile Manipulation.
Estimated Time: 4 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

3- Robotics Software Engineer offered by Udacity

Who is this for? best for engineers who want to work on Humanoid Robots or Mobile Robots (security robot, robot vacume, robot dog, ...)
Type: Certificate nanodegree (Udacity's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: math (probability, calculus, linear algebra), Linux command lines, and C++.
Courses: Introduction to robotics, Gazebo—a simulator used in robotics, ROS (Robot Operating System) Essentials, Localization, Mapping and SLAM, Path Planning and Navigation.
Estimated Time: 4 months at 10-15 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

Self-Driving Cars

1- Intro to Self-Driving Car offered by Udacity

Who is this for? Beginners with no prior background in programming or robotics who want to become self-driving car engineers or robotics software engineers
Type: Certificate nanodegree (Udacity's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Prerequisites: experience with writing short scripts in any programming language and a basic understanding of algebra.
Courses: Bayesian Thinking, Working with Matrices, C++ Basics, Performance Programming in C++, Python Basics, Navigating Complex Data Structures, Visualizing Calculus & Controls, and Machine Learning & Computer Vision
Estimated Time: 4 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

2- Self-Driving Car Engineer offered by Udacity in Collaboration with Waymo and Mercedes-Benz

Who is this for? This program is built in collaboration with Waymo (Google's self-driving car company) and Mercedes-Benz for enigneers who want to switch to self-driving car engineering
Type: Certificate nanodegree (Udacity's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: Python, C++, linear algebra, and calculus.
Courses: Computer Vision using machine learning and deep learning, Sensor Fusion, Localization, Planning, and Control
Estimated Time: 5 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

3- Self-Driving Car Specialization offered by Coursera

Who is this for? This program is similar to the self-driving car nanodegree programs offered by Udacity, and is best for engineers who want to switch to self-driving car engineering.
Type: Certificate Specialization (Coursera's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: Linear algebra, Calculus, Probability theory, Kinematic and Dynamic modeling, as well as Exposure to programming, AI, and Robotics.
Courses: Introduction to Self-Driving Cars, State Estimation and Localization for Self-Driving Cars, Visual Perception for Self-Driving Cars, and Motion Planning for Self-Driving Cars.
Estimated Time: 3 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

4- Sensor Fusion offered by Udacity in collaboration with Mercedes-Benzes

Who is this for? best for engineers who want skills and knowledge necessary to design and implement sensor fusion systems for self-driving cars.
Type: Certificate nanodegree (Udacity's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: Advanced knowledge in programming language C++, Intermediate probability, Intermediate calculus, Intermediate linear algebra, Basic Linux command lines.
Courses: Lidar, Radar, Camera, Kalman Filters.
Estimated Time: 4 months at 10 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)

Flying Cars

1- Flying Car and Autonomous Flying Car Engineer offered by Udacity

Who is this for? best for the engineers who want to work on drones, autonomous flying cars and real aircrafts.
Type: Certificate nanodegree (Udacity's term referring to a series or collection of courses)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: substantial experience in programming, Python, C++, basic linear algebra, calculus (derivatives and integrals), probability and statistics, and basic physics.
Courses: Introduction to flying cars, 3D Motion Planning, Controls, Estimation
Estimated Time: 4 months at 10-15 hrs/week (it will probably take you 1-2 months longer)