Rusty Flying Robots: Learning a Full Robotics Stack with Real-Time Operation on an STM32 Microcontroller in a 9 ECTS MS Course

TL;DR

This paper presents a masters course teaching robotics through real-time flight control on an STM32 microcontroller using Rust, emphasizing hands-on algorithm deployment and student engagement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel robotics course that combines theoretical learning with practical implementation on constrained hardware using Rust.

Findings

Students successfully deployed nonlinear algorithms on microcontrollers.

Positive student feedback over two years indicates effective learning.

Course methodology bridges theory and real-world robotics applications.

Abstract

We describe a novel masters-level projects class that teaches robotics along the traditional robotics pipeline (dynamics, state estimation, controls, planning). One key motivational part is that students have to directly apply the algorithms they learn on a highly constrained compute platform, effectively making a robot fly. We teach nonlinear algorithms as deployed in state-of-the-art flight stacks such as PX4. Didactically, we rely on two core concepts: 1) avoidance of provided black-box software infrastructure, and 2) usage of the safe and efficient programming language Rust that is used on the PC (for simulation) and an STM32 microcontroller (for robot deployment). We discuss our methodology and the student feedback over two years with ten students each. Teaching material: https://imrclab.github.io/teaching/flying-robots