Introduction to Robotics
Tier list
Robot sensors ranked by how much they matter
I ranked five robot sensors by usefulness. Number one will surprise you.
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Key points
- Ultrasonic sensor: Cheap distance sensing, but wide beams and soft surfaces make it unreliable.
- Camera: Rich information, but heavy processing and lighting changes limit it.
- LiDAR: Precise range maps for mobile robots, held back only by cost.
- IMU: Measures acceleration and rotation, but drifts unless corrected by other sensors.
- Encoder: Measures joint position directly, the foundation of nearly every robot's motion control.
Takeaway: Encoders give joint position; most motion control starts there.
Quick check: Which sensor directly measures a robot joint's angular position?
- Ultrasonic sensor
- Rotary encoder
- Camera
An encoder converts shaft rotation into position counts.
Lessons like this, for your syllabus.
Short narrated study videos written for your course, level and exam. Free to start.
Get lessons for your own syllabus