Career
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I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore in highschool and
i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I don't exactly know
what im looking for here. I think the career that i'm looking for is
robotics engineering. What kind of education do i need in college?
Are there any colleges in the US that have a robotics engineering
program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or Electrical
engineering? Thanks for any help.
i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I don't exactly know
what im looking for here. I think the career that i'm looking for is
robotics engineering. What kind of education do i need in college?
Are there any colleges in the US that have a robotics engineering
program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or Electrical
engineering? Thanks for any help.
Comments
specialized laboratories (and sometimes Institutes) which are
interdisciplinary, often combining electrical, mechanical, and
biomedical engineering departments, in addition to computer science.
Here is one example: http://www-robotics.usc.edu/ at USC, Los Angeles
CA. Students choose to major in a traditional department in a field
that interests them most, and then take elective courses, or help out on
research projects, through contacting professors in robotics-oriented
laboratories. It is also possible to minor in robotics at some
universities, as described at Carnegie-Mellon U at
http://www.ri.cmu.edu/. Visiting a robotics research lab is a good
idea, and usually welcomed by the professors there. If you live near a
university, consider investigating what is available there, either
through their website, or by phone.
You will often find fascinating research in these laboratories that is
really cutting edge. I once needed a very specialized miniature circuit
for RF telemetry in my biomedical research, that wasn't available
anywhere. I found a laboratory at UCLA that could produce it. When it
was ready, the lead engineer handed it to me and said "this is 5 years
ahead of industry, and 1 year ahead of JPL (Jet Propulsion Labs)." He
was right.
Dennis
Dennis P O'Leary PhD
Professor
USC
Los Angeles, CA
Original Message
From: duncanla22 [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=SJsCyU2po3v_EcZYdW3GMhiYXdqcoazdFW87azNldQqbLNE4B5_GyyHPS23oGvkB88t9Et9dHq6-rK4Bn5LVWA]Duncanla@c...[/url
Sent: Friday, November 29, 2002 10:17 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Career
I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore in highschool and
i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I don't exactly know
what im looking for here. I think the career that i'm looking for is
robotics engineering. What kind of education do i need in college?
Are there any colleges in the US that have a robotics engineering
program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or Electrical
engineering? Thanks for any help.
To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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Mechanical engineering, and start building robots now...
Beware of quick robotics schools, trade schools etc. Anb advanced
degree from MIT will get you what ever you want.
Oh and start Aceing your math classes now, it's hard to get into MIT!
--- In basicstamps@y..., "duncanla22" <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore in highschool
and
> i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I don't exactly know
> what im looking for here. I think the career that i'm looking for
is
> robotics engineering. What kind of education do i need in college?
> Are there any colleges in the US that have a robotics engineering
> program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or Electrical
> engineering? Thanks for any help.
> Go to MIT and get at least a Masters in Electrical
<snip?
> Oh and start Aceing your math classes now, it's hard
> to get into MIT!
yea, so let's talk reality. There are plenty of
opportunities in automation without going to MIT.
A sophmore in high school shouldn't be limiting
him/herself to a disipline at that age anyways, IMO.
Grab a stamp, start goofing around, take a class on
analog (i.e., tubes) technology, build from there.
Robots are automation used in industry, and if there
isn't any industry you won't have a job if you limit
yourself to that.
The best combination of education I've seen in
industry is IE and and MBA. So go do the
thermaldynamics then do the econ. Or do the econ then
the thermal . . . you get the point.
> --- In basicstamps@y..., "duncanla22"
> <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> > I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore
> in highschool
> and
> > i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I
> don't exactly know
> > what im looking for here. I think the career that
> i'm looking for
> is
> > robotics engineering. What kind of education do i
> need in college?
> > Are there any colleges in the US that have a
> robotics engineering
> > program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or
> Electrical
> > engineering? Thanks for any help.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed.
> Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be
> ignored.
>
>
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> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
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> <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> > I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore
> in highschool
> and
> > i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I
> don't exactly know
> > what im looking for here. I think the career that
> i'm looking for
> is
> > robotics engineering. What kind of education do i
> need in college?
> > Are there any colleges in the US that have a
> robotics engineering
> > program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or
> Electrical
> > engineering? Thanks for any help.
A very good start to your career as a Robotic Engineer is to look into the
FIRST Program.
<A HREF="www.usfirst.org">www.usfirst.org</A>
This is a constructive Robotics Competition geared to High School Students.
(Don't get this concused with Robot Wars ant that other WWF type of robotics
junk on cable tv)
Stdents form a team to build a robot and enter it in regional and nationwide
competitions.
If your school dosent have a team you can look into other local teams in your
area, or start one at your school.
This is a very good start. Dean Kaman, the founder of FIRST (inventer of the
Segway), wanted to let kids know that Science os Cool. Ther are more
technocal jobs than there are Professional Sports Jobs.
Good Luck
Alan Bradford
Plasam Technologies
Former coach FIRST Lebanon Robotics Team #95
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I agree with Alan...I think FIRST (or for people in Canada, CanadaFIRST) is
a
great experience and opportunity to learn about building robotics first
hand.
Usually teams from school build a robot for specific task and compete
against
agsinst schools. Competition can range from collecting balls and placing
them
in to different containers and etc. If your school doesn't have, like Alan
mentioned
it is definitely worth starting one. I'm a FIRST mentor for one our local
highschools
in Toronto.
In terms of education and preparation, I think I believe the best way to
approach
robotics is that you have to get out there and try it out...get yourself a
simple
controller and make small little gadgets. Along the way, you'll find
yourself more
attracted to certain areas of the work and that will help guide you in your
course
of studies in the future. So if you find yourself enjoying working with
motors and
mechanisms then mechnical engineering supplemented with some electrical
couses.
If you enjoy hooking up the controller, building circuits and sensors then
you may
want to consider electrical engineering. I think computer engineering is
little too
focused on programming to have an appreciation on the hardware unless you
find
yourself interested in AI and algorithm design.
Hope that helps,
Thomas
>
> A very good start to your career as a Robotic Engineer is to look into the
> FIRST Program.
> <A HREF="www.usfirst.org">www.usfirst.org</A>
> This is a constructive Robotics Competition geared to High School
Students.
> (Don't get this concused with Robot Wars ant that other WWF type of
robotics
> junk on cable tv)
>
> Stdents form a team to build a robot and enter it in regional and
nationwide
> competitions.
>
> If your school dosent have a team you can look into other local teams in
your
> area, or start one at your school.
> This is a very good start. Dean Kaman, the founder of FIRST (inventer of
the
> Segway), wanted to let kids know that Science os Cool. Ther are more
> technocal jobs than there are Professional Sports Jobs.
>
> Good Luck
> Alan Bradford
> Plasam Technologies
> Former coach FIRST Lebanon Robotics Team #95
>
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
a solid engineering education into latest technologies, such as
nanotechnology and its variations, which aren't mature fields yet.
Dennis
Original Message
From: Thomas Looi [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=XepxZhBfMY--gxZceGg2NDGe6naUC4Qs_89sKIh2_OPnOiSGJ34s7jRIVxbdPpSv9xD7W1SgA9rqDVvkL4U]thomas.looi@u...[/url
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 11:09 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Career
Hello there,
I agree with Alan...I think FIRST (or for people in Canada, CanadaFIRST)
is a great experience and opportunity to learn about building robotics
first hand. Usually teams from school build a robot for specific task
and compete against agsinst schools. Competition can range from
collecting balls and placing them in to different containers and etc. If
your school doesn't have, like Alan mentioned it is definitely worth
starting one. I'm a FIRST mentor for one our local highschools in
Toronto.
In terms of education and preparation, I think I believe the best way to
approach robotics is that you have to get out there and try it out...get
yourself a simple controller and make small little gadgets. Along the
way, you'll find yourself more attracted to certain areas of the work
and that will help guide you in your course of studies in the future. So
if you find yourself enjoying working with motors and mechanisms then
mechnical engineering supplemented with some electrical couses. If you
enjoy hooking up the controller, building circuits and sensors then you
may want to consider electrical engineering. I think computer
engineering is little too focused on programming to have an appreciation
on the hardware unless you find yourself interested in AI and algorithm
design.
Hope that helps,
Thomas
in building the robotic mechanical hardware. I know quite a few folks who
are the cats meow as far as electronic hardware and code, but their robots
are very fragile / trouble-prone because they can't put together a decent
chassis.
The First and Best competitions are good in this respect because most of the
problem-solving involves mechanical solutions and not hardware / software.
This, plus taking as much math, physics and maybe some shop classes (do they
still teach this stuff in high school??) will give you a better chance at
success.
Keep in mind your first couple of years in college are usually spent doing
the basics, and while much of it does not apply to your field of study, it
does make you a better person and hopefully teaches you to work hard at
stuff you really don't care about. On the other hand, I did spend 21
glorious days traveling and drinking beer in England to complete a
humanities class I put off until my senior year of college.
Original Message
> This is good advice. Career-level robotics will benefit from obtaining
> a solid engineering education into latest technologies, such as
> nanotechnology and its variations, which aren't mature fields yet.
> I agree with Alan...I think FIRST (or for people in Canada, CanadaFIRST)
> is a great experience and opportunity to learn about building robotics
> first hand. Usually teams from school build a robot for specific task
> and compete against agsinst schools. Competition can range from
> collecting balls and placing them in to different containers and etc. If
> your school doesn't have, like Alan mentioned it is definitely worth
> starting one. I'm a FIRST mentor for one our local highschools in
> Toronto.
>
> In terms of education and preparation, I think I believe the best way to
> approach robotics is that you have to get out there and try it out...get
> yourself a simple controller and make small little gadgets. Along the
> way, you'll find yourself more attracted to certain areas of the work
> and that will help guide you in your course of studies in the future. So
> if you find yourself enjoying working with motors and mechanisms then
> mechnical engineering supplemented with some electrical couses. If you
> enjoy hooking up the controller, building circuits and sensors then you
> may want to consider electrical engineering. I think computer
> engineering is little too focused on programming to have an appreciation
> on the hardware unless you find yourself interested in AI and algorithm
> design.
shop would not be a bad idea also. Hands on knowledge
in knowing how things work and what is practical are a
must. A weakness I see in many engineers is that their
designs look great but the implementation is not
workable due to their lack of mechanical knowledge and
prototyping skills.
kevin
--- kvasilak <my427v8@h...> wrote:
> Go to MIT and get at least a Masters in Electrical
> and minor in
> Mechanical engineering, and start building robots
> now...
>
> Beware of quick robotics schools, trade schools etc.
> Anb advanced
> degree from MIT will get you what ever you want.
>
> Oh and start Aceing your math classes now, it's hard
> to get into MIT!
>
> --- In basicstamps@y..., "duncanla22"
> <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> > I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore
> in highschool
> and
> > i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I
> don't exactly know
> > what im looking for here. I think the career that
> i'm looking for
> is
> > robotics engineering. What kind of education do i
> need in college?
> > Are there any colleges in the US that have a
> robotics engineering
> > program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or
> Electrical
> > engineering? Thanks for any help.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed.
> Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be
> ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
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already then why do you like robots?
Get into mech's and electronics, if you like that and are good with
it and are good in school you can go far.
Well unless you want to go to tech school and just be a
technician...Solder this, wire that...
engineers are the ones that get to design stuff, new cool stuff, MIT
grads get to design the really cool stuff!
--- In basicstamps@y..., kevin asato <kc6pob@y...> wrote:
> take IA classes in wood, metal, and electronics. Auto
> shop would not be a bad idea also. Hands on knowledge
> in knowing how things work and what is practical are a
> must. A weakness I see in many engineers is that their
> designs look great but the implementation is not
> workable due to their lack of mechanical knowledge and
> prototyping skills.
>
> kevin
>
> --- kvasilak <my427v8@h...> wrote:
> > Go to MIT and get at least a Masters in Electrical
> > and minor in
> > Mechanical engineering, and start building robots
> > now...
> >
> > Beware of quick robotics schools, trade schools etc.
> > Anb advanced
> > degree from MIT will get you what ever you want.
> >
> > Oh and start Aceing your math classes now, it's hard
> > to get into MIT!
> >
> > --- In basicstamps@y..., "duncanla22"
> > <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> > > I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore
> > in highschool
> > and
> > > i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I
> > don't exactly know
> > > what im looking for here. I think the career that
> > i'm looking for
> > is
> > > robotics engineering. What kind of education do i
> > need in college?
> > > Are there any colleges in the US that have a
> > robotics engineering
> > > program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or
> > Electrical
> > > engineering? Thanks for any help.
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> > from the same email address that you subscribed.
> > Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be
> > ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
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League competition which is the preamble to FIRST. FLL is aimed at 11 to 14
year-olds and most regular schools are hesitant to join due to lack of
faculty experience with robotics. My group is just completing their robot
for competition this week. We could have used a high school student to
mentor our group. One learns best when they teach others.
The students are confident with simple programming concepts from Mindstorms
and want to try out my BOE-BOT when the January term rolls around. Let me
think about that one before I let them wrestle with my Stamp boards.
David Disko
under their Electrical or Computer Science degrees. The University of
Kentucky has their robotics department under these two. And like
everyone else is telling you, study a LOT of math.
--- In basicstamps@y..., "duncanla22" <Duncanla@c...> wrote:
> I am very interested in robotics. I am a sophomore in highschool
and
> i am looking into a career in robotics. But, I don't exactly know
> what im looking for here. I think the career that i'm looking for
is
> robotics engineering. What kind of education do i need in college?
> Are there any colleges in the US that have a robotics engineering
> program or do i need to go in to Mechanical or Electrical
> engineering? Thanks for any help.