Teaching Robotics with ROS 2 | ROSCon UK 2025 Workshop

Overview

Teaching robotics is uniquely challenging. Between managing complex tooling, navigating steep learning curves, and balancing theory with hands-on skills, many educators struggle to deliver effective robotics education. ROS 2 offers immense power, but it’s not always easy to teach.

This half-day workshop brings educators, students, and developers together to share honest experiences of teaching robotics with ROS 2. Through lightning talks, demos, discussions, and breakouts, we'll explore what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can better support each other. Our goal: to build community, share tools, and improve how we teach robotics.

Presenters

Dr Vijay Pawar
UCL Bartlett School

Dr Rafaello Bonghi
NVIDIA

Prof Sabine Hauert
University of Bristol

Prof Marc Hanheide
University of Lincoln

Dr Maria Koskinopoulou
Heriot-Watt University

Riccardo Tellez
The Construct

Alexander Enoch
Robotical

Outline and Goals

As ROS 2 continues to evolve, so too do the ways it's being taught—in universities, industry training programs, outreach efforts, and informal communities. This half-day workshop brings together educators, curriculum developers, tool/platform creators, and students to share real-world experiences in teaching robotics with ROS 2.

The workshop will feature short talks, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and practical demos, all centered around key questions:

What tools and methods are educators using to teach ROS 2 successfully?
What hasn’t worked, and what can we learn from that?
How can the ROS community better support robotics education at all levels?
What platforms—hardware and software—enable effective, scalable learning?
Can we build more alignment between tool developers and education needs?

Our goals:

Showcase diverse teaching approaches and challenges with ROS 2.
Share reusable tools, techniques, and platforms across the community.
Foster networking and potential collaboration between educators, students, and developers.
Begin forming a living resource hub or ongoing ROS Education community of practice.

Intended Audience and Learning Outcomes

This workshop is for:

University educators (UG and PG) teaching robotics, mechatronics, or embedded systems.
Industry trainers and technical educators running ROS 2 bootcamps or onboarding.
High school and outreach educators working to introduce robotics early.
Developers of educational tools and platforms based on ROS 2.
Hobbyist/maker educators or content creators teaching through informal channels.
Students and recent learners, offering insight into learning barriers and motivations.
ROS 2 Developers and Community, to provide a perspective on how learners interact with ROS 2 and insights into what works well and what needs improvement.

Attendees will leave with:

Practical course design strategies and pitfalls to avoid.
A list of effective tools, simulators, and hardware platforms for teaching.
Fresh insights into engaging students and reducing friction with ROS 2.
New contacts and possible collaborators in the ROS education space.
Access to a shared open source collection of teaching materials and resources.

Workshop Schedule

Session	Time	Description
Welcome & Workshop Goals	09:30–09:45	Framing the workshop themes and introducing the team and agenda.
Lightning Talks (Part 1)	09:45–10:30	4 short talks (~10 mins each + Q&A). Presenters: • Dr Vijay Pawar • Dr Rafaello Bonghi • Prof Sabine Hauert • Prof Marc Hanheide
Lightning Talks (Part 2)	10:30–11:15	More short talks on ROS education. Presenters: • Dr Maria Koskinopoulou • Riccardo Tellez • Alexander Enoch
Break & Networking	11:15–11:30	Coffee and snacks. Informal discussions and networking among attendees.
Demo Showcase	11:30–12:10	Live or semi-live demos of teaching platforms and tools. Examples include: • Robot kits, digital twins, RViz-based tools • Open course frameworks and simulators • Attendee 2-minute informal demo slots
Interactive Panel & Audience Q&A	12:10–12:45	Moderated panel with educators, students, and developers. Topics: • Student engagement strategies • Open-source vs commercial tools • Inclusive and accessible robotics education
Collaborative Breakouts & Discussions	12:45–13:15	Small group discussions with prompts such as: • Designing a ROS 2 curriculum from scratch • Gaps in the ROS teaching ecosystem • Major challenges in ROS education Groups will report key insights.
Wrap-up & Next Steps	13:15–13:30	Summary of insights and discussions. Feedback gathering and information sharing. Option to join ROS Education interest group or mailing list.