Seeing is Believing ================================================== **Theme:** *Seeing is Believing* — this week we dive into **RViz2** and **Gazebo**, where theory and code come alive through visualization and simulation. .. image:: _static/gazebo-illustration.gif :alt: Example GIF :align: center Focus ----- - Learn the difference between **visualization (RViz2)** and **simulation (Gazebo)**. - Understand why robotics engineers simulate before building. - URDF Basics - Import 3D models - Robot visualization - Robot simulation - Map and World Building Learning Flow ------------- 1. **Theory** - Why simulation is critical in robotics. - Visualization vs. simulation. - Introduction to URDF (Unified Robot Description Format). - Digital twin concepts in robotics. 2. **Practical / Code** - Write a basic URDF for a simple robot. - Import 3D models into Gazebo. - Visualize frames, sensors, and trajectories in RViz2. - Move a robot in simulation and observe transforms + states in RViz. - Launch a robot simulation in Gazebo. - Create a simple custom world with obstacles and free space. - Launch a robot model in **Gazebo**. 3. **Assignment** - Load a robot - Visualize sensors and coordinate frames in **RViz2**. - Write a short README explaining how simulation matches theory. Takeaway -------- By the end of this week, students will understand how to move from **robot descriptions (URDF)** to **visualization (RViz2)** and **simulation (Gazebo)**. They will be able to create simple robots, visualize their states, and place them in custom worlds — proving that in robotics, truly, *Seeing is Believing*.