How to Program a Robot [Interview]

From specialized factory machines to general purpose service robots that can handle a variety of human questions and needs, robots have an ever-increasing presence in our lives. But what does it take to program a robot?

I spoke with Jans Lembrecht from about his experience programming industrial robots designed for single purpose tasks that use their own programming languages to newer robots that use C++ or Python to handle broader tasks that humans throw at them. We also discussed how anyone interested in getting started with programming robots can begin and how to make people understand what robots are capable beyond eye-catching booth dressing.

Products and Projects Mentioned

• Kuka Robots
• Programming Neo and Pepper
• Lego Mindstorms
• Tinker Bots
• The ROS Framework