# Robots: ROS 2, vision, simulation, arms, drones and humanoids > Guides to building and programming robots: ROS 2, SLAM, computer vision, simulation, robot arms, drones and humanoids, written for makers in India. Canonical: https://roboticsengineering.in/robots/ | Published: 2026-11-03 | Updated: 2026-11-03 **Start with the part of robotics you want to build.** These are the software and system guides: ROS 2, mapping, vision, simulation, arms and drones. For hardware parts see the component guides. ## ROS 2 - [ROS 2 lifecycle nodes tutorial](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-lifecycle-nodes-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 Windows Setup with WSL2](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-windows-wsl2-setup/) - [ROS 2 custom messages and interfaces: a practical guide](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-custom-messages-interfaces/) - [ROS 2 hardware interface tutorial: move real motors](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-hardware-interface-tutorial/) - [MoveIt 2 tutorial: planning and execution in ROS 2](https://roboticsengineering.in/moveit2-tutorial-ros2/) - [ROS 2 QoS tutorial: reliability, durability and depth](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-qos-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 sensor fusion: wheel odometry and IMU](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-sensor-fusion-robot-localization/) - [URDF vs SDF: what each format is for in ROS and Gazebo](https://roboticsengineering.in/urdf-vs-sdf/) - [ROS 2 bag files: record, inspect and replay properly](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-bag-files-rosbag2/) - [SLAM Toolbox tutorial: map a robot in ROS 2](https://roboticsengineering.in/slam-toolbox-ros2-tutorial/) - [micro-ROS tutorial: put a ROS 2 node on an ESP32](https://roboticsengineering.in/micro-ros-tutorial/) - [ros2_control tutorial: controllers, hardware interfaces and config](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-control-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 TF2 tutorial: frames, lookups and errors](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-tf2-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 migration: what changed from ROS 1 and how to plan it](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-vs-ros1/) - [URDF ROS 2 tutorial: describe a robot properly](https://roboticsengineering.in/urdf-ros2-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 topics, services and actions: when to use each](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-topics-services-actions/) - [ROS 2 launch files: a practical tutorial](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-launch-files-tutorial/) - [Gazebo ROS 2 tutorial: simulate a robot that drives](https://roboticsengineering.in/gazebo-ros2-simulation-tutorial/) - [Nav2 tutorial: making a robot navigate a saved map](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-nav2-tutorial/) - [ROS 2 for beginners: a first robot program that runs](https://roboticsengineering.in/ros2-tutorial-beginners/) ## Mapping and navigation - [SLAM Toolbox tutorial: map a robot in ROS 2](https://roboticsengineering.in/slam-toolbox-ros2-tutorial/) - [SLAM for beginners: build a robot that maps a room](https://roboticsengineering.in/slam-for-beginners/) - [LiDAR vs ultrasonic vs IR: choosing distance sensors for robots](https://roboticsengineering.in/lidar-vs-ultrasonic-vs-ir-robots/) ## Vision - [Jetson Orin Nano Setup Guide for Robot Vision](https://roboticsengineering.in/jetson-orin-nano-robot-vision-setup/) - [Depth Camera Robot Vision: Choosing and Using One](https://roboticsengineering.in/depth-camera-robot-vision-guide/) - [OpenCV Camera Calibration: Chessboard to Millimetres](https://roboticsengineering.in/camera-calibration-opencv-python/) - [YOLO robot setup: a practical guide to object detection](https://roboticsengineering.in/robot-vision-yolo-object-detection/) - [ESP32-CAM robot guide: vision, streaming, latency and limits](https://roboticsengineering.in/esp32-cam-robot-vision-streaming/) - [Raspberry Pi vs Jetson for robotics: which board](https://roboticsengineering.in/raspberry-pi-vs-jetson-robotics/) - [Robot vision cameras in India: types, costs and selection](https://roboticsengineering.in/robot-vision-camera-guide-india/) - [OpenCV on Raspberry Pi: robot vision that actually works](https://roboticsengineering.in/opencv-raspberry-pi-robot-vision/) ## Simulation - [MuJoCo for robotics: install, first model and when to use it](https://roboticsengineering.in/mujoco-robot-simulation/) - [Isaac Sim vs Gazebo: which simulator to use in 2026](https://roboticsengineering.in/isaac-sim-vs-gazebo/) - [Gazebo ROS 2 tutorial: simulate a robot that drives](https://roboticsengineering.in/gazebo-ros2-simulation-tutorial/) ## Robot arms - [Harmonic drive vs planetary gearbox: which one wins your robot joint](https://roboticsengineering.in/harmonic-drive-vs-planetary-gearbox/) - [Inverse kinematics Python code for a two-link robot arm](https://roboticsengineering.in/inverse-kinematics-2-link-arm-python/) - [Robot arm design guide: CAD, joints and materials](https://roboticsengineering.in/robot-arm-design-cad-guide/) - [Harmonic drive vs cycloidal reducer for robot joints](https://roboticsengineering.in/harmonic-drive-vs-cycloidal-gear/) - [Robot arm kinematics: forward and inverse kinematics made practical](https://roboticsengineering.in/robot-arm-kinematics-basics/) - [Pick and place robot arm with Arduino: torque first, code second](https://roboticsengineering.in/pick-and-place-robot-arm-arduino/) ## Control - [PID tuning for robot motion: a practical method](https://roboticsengineering.in/pid-tuning-robot-motion/) - [Complementary Filter IMU Tilt Angle Without a Kalman Filter](https://roboticsengineering.in/complementary-filter-imu-arduino/) - [PID Line Follower Explained, With Real Tuning Steps](https://roboticsengineering.in/pid-control-line-follower-explained/) ## Drones - [Drone Pilot Career India: Pay, Skills and Jobs](https://roboticsengineering.in/drone-pilot-career-india/) - [Drone Survey Business India: Mapping, Cost and Pricing](https://roboticsengineering.in/drone-survey-mapping-business-india/) - [FPV drone India: goggles, video link and first quad](https://roboticsengineering.in/fpv-drone-india-guide/) - [Drone Flight Controller India: Firmware, Boards and Tuning](https://roboticsengineering.in/drone-flight-controller-guide-india/) - [How to build a drone in India: parts, cost and rules](https://roboticsengineering.in/how-to-build-drone-india/) - [Drone spraying business in India: costs, rules and payback](https://roboticsengineering.in/drone-spraying-business-india/) - [Drone pilot licence India: DGCA rules, remote pilot certificate and costs](https://roboticsengineering.in/drone-pilot-licence-india/) ## Humanoids - [Humanoid robots in India: what is real and what they cost](https://roboticsengineering.in/humanoid-robots-india/) ## Boards for robots - [Raspberry Pi vs Jetson for robotics: which board](https://roboticsengineering.in/raspberry-pi-vs-jetson-robotics/) - [OpenCV on Raspberry Pi: robot vision that actually works](https://roboticsengineering.in/opencv-raspberry-pi-robot-vision/) - [Raspberry Pi 5 robot guide: power, cameras and what changed](https://roboticsengineering.in/raspberry-pi-5-robot-guide/) - [Arduino vs ESP32 for robotics: which board should you start with](https://roboticsengineering.in/arduino-vs-esp32-for-robotics/) - [Raspberry Pi Pico W robot guide: wiring, power and MicroPython](https://roboticsengineering.in/raspberry-pi-pico-w-robot-guide/) - [Raspberry Pi robot: what it does that an Arduino cannot](https://roboticsengineering.in/raspberry-pi-robot-guide/) - [Arduino vs Raspberry Pi for robotics: which should you buy?](https://roboticsengineering.in/arduino-vs-raspberry-pi-robotics/) Hardware next: [component guides](https://roboticsengineering.in/components/), [projects](https://roboticsengineering.in/projects/) and [calculators](https://roboticsengineering.in/tools/). Last reviewed: November 2026. Guides are added in waves; costs and figures in them are illustrations, not quotations.