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Welcome to the Intro-ROS2 learning wiki — a short, visual, hands-on guide designed for undergraduates with basic Arduino and Python exposure who are new to Linux and ROS2.

This wiki uses a single sample project (a motorized inverted pendulum) to teach the typical robot development flow with ROS2, why teams move from microcontroller-only designs to ROS, and what the extra pieces (simulation, launch systems, message types, tooling) actually solve.

Quick snapshot

• Audience: undergraduates familiar with basic Python and embedded C
• Duration: 3 days (bare-minimum, hands-on track)
• Language: Python-first examples (C++ notes where needed)
• Distros: examples work on Ubuntu 24.04 / ROS 3 (Jazzy) and are compatible with Ubuntu 22.04 / ROS 2 Humble where noted
• Simulation: Gazebo (Harmonic) included for visual learning

Follow the step-by-step pages in this wiki:

• Overview: Why ROS2, architecture, and the big picture
• Concepts: nodes, topics, services, actions, packages
• Setup: links to installers, quick Linux/WSL command notes
• PendulumProject: the sample project walkthrough
• Exercises: short practical tasks and verification steps
• Troubleshooting: common issues and fixes
• Resources: official docs, tutorials and GIFs

How we'll use 3 days

• Day 1 — install, ROS basics, run simple talker/listener, learn CLI
• Day 2 — run the pendulum simulation in Gazebo, inspect topics/services
• Day 3 — implement a simple controller (PID), visualize and record a GIF

Visual learners: each page suggests short screencasts or GIFs to illustrate the commands and simulator interactions.

Next: open the Overview to get the big picture.