5 answers
Ayden
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
568 views
Hi, I am a student from crane middle school and here is me trying to get help to be a robotic engineer.
Lately I’ve just been fixing random stuff like computers and electronics whenever they break.am very interested in engineering because I love building things with Legos. I enjoy designing robots, but sometimes another project I work on doesn't really come out as good as I hoped. When a robot doesn't work the first time, I have to look at the parts again and figure out which piece is causing the problem so I can fix it. This process helps me understand how the AI and the mechanics work together. I want to learn how to make my designs more reliable and professional. What skills should I practice now to get better at designing robots that actually work the first time?
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5 answers
Theresa Earle
Founder
5
Answers
Henniker, New Hampshire
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
Hi Ayden,
I am not a robotics engineer, but one thing I do know about learning is that what you’re already doing is exactly how people get better at building things. Fixing broken electronics, experimenting, and figuring out why something didn’t work is real skill-building.
When a robot doesn’t work the first time and you go back to find the problem, you’re actually practicing an important skill called Systems Thinking. It means looking at how different parts work together and figuring out where the problem is.
One habit that might help is keeping notes or sketches of what you tried and what changed when you fixed something. Engineers call that documentation, and it helps you remember what works and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
And one more thing: be patient with failure. Even professional robotics teams test and rebuild their machines many times before they work reliably. Each attempt teaches you something new.
So, my biggest advice is simple: keep building, keep fixing, and stay curious.
Take care,
Theresa
I am not a robotics engineer, but one thing I do know about learning is that what you’re already doing is exactly how people get better at building things. Fixing broken electronics, experimenting, and figuring out why something didn’t work is real skill-building.
When a robot doesn’t work the first time and you go back to find the problem, you’re actually practicing an important skill called Systems Thinking. It means looking at how different parts work together and figuring out where the problem is.
One habit that might help is keeping notes or sketches of what you tried and what changed when you fixed something. Engineers call that documentation, and it helps you remember what works and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
And one more thing: be patient with failure. Even professional robotics teams test and rebuild their machines many times before they work reliably. Each attempt teaches you something new.
So, my biggest advice is simple: keep building, keep fixing, and stay curious.
Take care,
Theresa
Theresa Earle
Founder
5
Answers
Henniker, New Hampshire
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
Hi Ayden,
I might not be a robotics engineer, but one thing I do know about learning is that what you’re already doing is exactly how people get better at building things. Fixing broken electronics, experimenting, and figuring out why something didn’t work is real skill-building.
When a robot doesn’t work the first time and you go back to find the problem, you’re actually practicing an important skill called Systems Thinking. It means looking at how different parts work together and figuring out where the problem is.
One habit that might help is keeping notes or sketches of what you tried and what changed when you fixed something. Engineers call that documentation, and it helps you remember what works and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
And one more thing: be patient with failure. Even professional robotics teams test and rebuild their machines many times before they work reliably. Each attempt teaches you something new.
So, my biggest advice is simple: keep building, keep fixing, and stay curious.
Take care,
Theresa
I might not be a robotics engineer, but one thing I do know about learning is that what you’re already doing is exactly how people get better at building things. Fixing broken electronics, experimenting, and figuring out why something didn’t work is real skill-building.
When a robot doesn’t work the first time and you go back to find the problem, you’re actually practicing an important skill called Systems Thinking. It means looking at how different parts work together and figuring out where the problem is.
One habit that might help is keeping notes or sketches of what you tried and what changed when you fixed something. Engineers call that documentation, and it helps you remember what works and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
And one more thing: be patient with failure. Even professional robotics teams test and rebuild their machines many times before they work reliably. Each attempt teaches you something new.
So, my biggest advice is simple: keep building, keep fixing, and stay curious.
Take care,
Theresa
David Allen
Consultant
124
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
It is awesome that you are already doing the most important part of engineering: troubleshooting. When your robot doesn't work and you have to find the specific piece causing the problem, you are practicing "Root Cause Analysis," which is a skill even professional NASA engineers use every day. To make your designs more reliable and professional, start focusing on Mechanical Robustness by learning how to build stronger structures that don't wobble or bend. You can practice this by studying "structural integrity" in your Lego builds—using "triangulation" (making triangle shapes with beams) to make your robots much tougher. Since you already like fixing electronics, learning basic soldering and how to use a multimeter will help you ensure your electrical connections are solid and won't fail during a test.
Another big secret to professional design is using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software before you ever touch a physical part. Since you are in middle school, you can use a free tool called Tinkercad or VEXcode VR to simulate your robots and see how they move on a screen first. This helps you catch mistakes in your "virtual" design so that when you build the real thing, it is much more likely to work the first time. To bridge the gap between mechanics and AI, I highly recommend learning a simple coding language like Python or using Scratch to control your robots; this will teach you how to give your machines "logic" so they can react to the world around them more reliably.
Another big secret to professional design is using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software before you ever touch a physical part. Since you are in middle school, you can use a free tool called Tinkercad or VEXcode VR to simulate your robots and see how they move on a screen first. This helps you catch mistakes in your "virtual" design so that when you build the real thing, it is much more likely to work the first time. To bridge the gap between mechanics and AI, I highly recommend learning a simple coding language like Python or using Scratch to control your robots; this will teach you how to give your machines "logic" so they can react to the world around them more reliably.
Christopher Clark
General Manager
1
Answer
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
Hey!
You are on the right track already! You are working on things like computers and electronics which will help with your growth and will continue to feed you passion for engineering. What you are doing now answers your own question. "What skills should I practice .... that actually works the first time?" It's in the process of things not working the first time that you will be able to get things to actually work the first time. The answer? Keep messing up, keep trying to figure out what went wrong, keep getting a better understanding. The answer is to keep going and keep growing.
The more you learn, the more confident you become, the more you will do!
Be Encouraged, Trust the Process
You are on the right track already! You are working on things like computers and electronics which will help with your growth and will continue to feed you passion for engineering. What you are doing now answers your own question. "What skills should I practice .... that actually works the first time?" It's in the process of things not working the first time that you will be able to get things to actually work the first time. The answer? Keep messing up, keep trying to figure out what went wrong, keep getting a better understanding. The answer is to keep going and keep growing.
The more you learn, the more confident you become, the more you will do!
Be Encouraged, Trust the Process
Deergha Naik
2
Answers
Updated
Deergha’s Answer
Engineers, like computer and robotics engineers, spend a lot of time fixing things and trying new ideas. They push themselves to improve. By doing this, they learn and get better every day. So, keep building and experimenting. Remember, it's okay to fail. This learning will help you create better and stronger projects over time.