Russ Tedrake · MIT · Course chapter

Robotic Manipulation: Introduction

A course introduction explaining why apparently ordinary manipulation tasks combine difficult perception, planning and control problems.

Source text reviewed October 27, 2026. Study notes and exercises are written by botstest.

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Where to start

Start with the household-task discussion and the model-based learning approach.

Use it in your project

Break one task into observable states and skills, and identify the assumptions hidden by a successful demonstration.

Scope and limitations

Research course notes; discussion of a task does not establish reliable household deployment.

Follow a related roadmap

Plan a shared robotics research lab · Beginner →

Read: Start with the household-task discussion and the model-based learning approach.

Use the task decomposition to expose the perception and control assumptions hidden in an everyday chore.

Produce: Translate the first lab experiments into sensing, control, workspace and staffing requirements.

Explore home-like manipulation in simulation · Beginner →

Read: Start with the household-task discussion and the model-based learning approach.

Use the task decomposition to expose the perception and control assumptions hidden in an everyday chore.

Produce: Break one household-like task into perception, planning and control assumptions and a repeatable reset.