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How do I get started with Robotics?

I am very passionate about it, but I have no clear path ahead of me except creating a few basic bots like a Line Follower Robot or an Obstacle Avoiding bot. Any tips? Also, I'm a 2nd Year Electronics Engineering student for context.

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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

Since you're studying electrical engineering, you're already on a great path for robotics. Your knowledge in circuits, signals, and embedded systems is a perfect match for this field. To dive into robotics, focus on learning about microcontrollers, timers, interrupts, ADCs, communication protocols, control theory, kinematics, dynamics, and programming in C++, Python, and ROS. Get hands-on by working on projects that combine different skills, like designing circuits, controlling motors with PWM, reading sensors, and using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers. Try building line-following robots, self-balancing robots, or mobile robots with PID control, encoders, IMUs, sensor fusion, and wireless communication for practical experience. You can also practice virtually with simulators like Gazebo, Webots, and CoppeliaSim, and create ROS nodes for sensors and actuators.

Joining university robotics clubs, IEEE student branches, or makerspaces, and contributing to open-source projects on GitHub will boost your skills. Participate in competitions like RoboCup, FIRST Robotics Competition, and IEEE Robotics Challenges to gain more experience. Explore free resources like ROS tutorials, MIT OpenCourseWare, Coursera, Arduino Project Hub, STM32Cube IDE tutorials, ESP32 documentation, and robotics-focused YouTube channels like The Construct, PyRobot, and Paul McWhorter.

Showcase your projects on GitHub and in your personal portfolio. Network with others on LinkedIn, GitHub, Stack Exchange, Discord, and Slack channels focused on robotics. Join communities like ROS Discourse Discord, ROS Slack, and FIRST Robotics Slack for discussions, feedback, mentorship, and collaboration. Gain experience through internships, volunteering, remote research, and virtual internships with open-source foundations and university labs. By focusing on areas like mobile robotics, automation, or drones, and continually building and improving systems, you'll develop both knowledge and hands-on expertise while connecting with the global robotics community. Also, update your resume to highlight your skills and projects, and practice mock interviews to prepare for job opportunities. By following these steps, you'll become a skilled robotics professional, ready to work on exciting and innovative projects.
Thank you comment icon First of all, thank you for this huge paragraph of an answer. I read through every bit and I'm really very grateful for the information you've shared, so thank you! Gladdy
Thank you comment icon You’re welcome! Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
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Lorenzo’s Answer

It's wonderful that you're interested in robotics. There's no wrong way to go about it. You've already begun by working on robots. To improve, you can join robotics clubs or groups. Also, talk to your school's career center to see if they have a list of companies where you could apply for an internship. This would be a great way to gain experience in robotics. Keep up the great work!
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your answer. I'll keep this in mind and try doing this. Thank you for your advice! Gladdy
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Roger’s Answer

Check if your school has a robotics club or any activities related to robotics or drones. Joining such groups can be a great start. My son began his career in aerospace engineering by participating in his high school robotics team. He later ran a successful drone startup. Drones are essentially flying robots, so skills in one area can help in the other. Consider joining drone or UAV clubs for similar experiences.

Explore online communities about robotics on platforms like Reddit and YouTube. These can be valuable resources for learning. Also, talk to your electrical engineering professors for guidance.

You're on the right track by asking where to start. Finding the right resources is a crucial first step. Good luck!
Thank you comment icon Got it, Thank you for your guidance! It's very much appreciated. Gladdy
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