RTL-220 · Real-Time Systems · Practitioner
Robotics & ROS 2 Middleware — full syllabus
Robot software that runs on real hardware: ROS 2 nodes, QoS, real-time executors, and the bridge down to embedded control.
Who this course is for
Robotics and automation engineers moving from prototypes to deployed robot software, and embedded engineers integrating a robot stack with real control hardware.
Prerequisites
- Working C++ and Linux
- Basic control or robotics concepts
- Comfort with a command line and build systems
Course outline
Day 1 — ROS 2 architecture and communication
- Nodes, topics, services, actions and the DDS layer underneath
- Quality of Service: reliability, durability, deadline, and what each costs
- Launch files, parameters and composing a system
- Reading the graph: ros2 topic, node info, and diagnosing a silent topic
Day 2 — Real-time behaviour and control
- Executors, callback groups and why default ROS 2 is not real-time
- The real-time executor, memory allocation and priority assignment
- Transforms (tf2) and sensor fusion fundamentals
- ros2_control and the hardware interface layer
Day 3 — Bridging to hardware, testing and deployment
- Bridging to embedded: micro-ROS, CAN and EtherCAT
- Simulation and testing: Gazebo, rosbag2 and integration tests
- Deployment: containers, startup ordering and watchdogs
- Diagnosing a robot that stutters: jitter, drops and where to look first
Hands-on labs
- Lab: build a multi-node system and prove it with the ROS 2 graph tools
- Lab: configure QoS for a control topic and demonstrate the deadline behaviour changing
- Lab: move a callback to a real-time executor and measure the jitter reduction
- Lab: bridge a ROS 2 node to a microcontroller over micro-ROS or CAN
- Lab: record a failing run with rosbag2, reproduce it offline, and fix the defect
Capstone project
Deliver a working robot control stack: ROS 2 nodes for perception and control, a real-time control path with measured jitter, a bridge to embedded hardware, and a recorded run that proves the system behaves when it matters.
What you leave with
- A working mental model of ROS 2 communication and its cost
- QoS and executor choices made deliberately rather than by default
- A bridge from ROS 2 down to real embedded control hardware
- A test and replay workflow that catches regressions before the robot does
Upcoming dates
| Dates | Where | Seats | Early bird | Regular | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov – 15 Nov 20266 half-days | Gulf bandLive online · 14:00–18:00 GST | 16 of 20 | — | US$1,750 | |
| 9 Nov – 16 Nov 20266 half-days | Europe bandLive online · 14:00–18:00 CET | 5 of 20 | — | US$1,750 | |
| 16 Nov – 23 Nov 20266 half-days | Americas bandLive online · 13:00–17:00 ET | 10 of 20 | US$1,580until 17 Oct | ||
| 25 Oct – 27 Oct 20263 full days | RiyadhIn person · KAFD Conference Centre | 6 of 14 | — | SAR 9,000 | |
| 25 Oct – 27 Oct 20263 full days | Kuwait CityIn person · Al Hamra Tower | 11 of 14 | — | USD 2,400 | |
| 1 Nov – 3 Nov 20263 full days | MuscatIn person · Knowledge Oasis Muscat | 6 of 14 | — | USD 2,400 | |
| 9 Nov – 11 Nov 20263 full days | OttawaIn person · Kanata North Tech Park | 11 of 14 | — | CAD 3,260 | |
| 9 Nov – 11 Nov 20263 full days | TorontoIn person · MaRS Discovery District | 6 of 14 | — | CAD 3,260 | |
| 16 Nov – 18 Nov 20263 full days | LondonIn person · Shoreditch Works | 11 of 14 | GBP 1,680until 17 Oct | ||
| 23 Nov – 25 Nov 20263 full days | BerlinIn person · Factory Görlitzer Park | 6 of 14 | EUR 1,990until 24 Oct |
Book a seat, or bring this course to your team
Seats can be reserved online; private delivery runs on-site or live online, adapted to your stack.
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