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Re: Software Engineer
Hi Krissy,
a Software professional cannot know too many languages!!
Knowing one well gives you the basis for applying it to all others.
Opens more doors... gives you power, to chose what is best for a particular application.
If you want techy rather then business S/W path you are already in good position.
Knowing Appling 'C; "C++' etc is your most powerful tool right now
..Realtime application is of particular advantage to many employers (esp robotics)
.. your robotics application is transferable to many tech companies as is!!
By all means keep your options open and progress optimum:
Apply for one of those scholarships and pursue a BS in CS..
Consider a double major.. CS + Mathematics or ME or EE even Physics if you fundamental sciences curiosity and interest.. To place yourself in the peer envious position of understanding in depth that which you wish to express via Software.
For example, if you really dig electronics
.. learning PSpice Electrical / Electronics modeling simulation is fascinating..
Could lead to your becoming a crack electronics designer
MicroSIM PSpice 9.1 free student version is available online
.. simulating analog & digital circuitry performance before construction, similar to the Auto-desk Auto-CAD for ME designs of robots.
(Electrical freedom has not been so generous as degree ME is in FIRST currently tho that $400 electronics could benefit from PSpice - schematic entry, performance shown graphically as would be seen on Oscilloscope.. A true Creativity exercise of What If's)
FYI:
A current example: the RS775 motor short to case = robot frame couples a 0-12.6v rectangular PWM waveform to the chassis, ~150 ea V884 (or more w/Jag) fast rising & falling edge transitions (stretched by motor inductance) capacitively coupled to any & all sensitive sensor & analog input wiring co-located with aluminium chassis aka electrical conductor, thus 'other' plate of a capacitor,
is likely responsible for hundreds of 'field' problems the last few years.
No one (to my knowledge) has endeavored to model it to predict potential of such erratic behavior.
Some including myself have offered a DC scenario
.. In actuality it is NOT a static DC voltage on the motor terminal except at full throttle forward, reverse or neutral!!
A dynamic PSpice model while beyond the scope of a typical team is the sort of effort that demonstrates, 'illuminates' skill employers seek.
Labview is used by most big companies due to its widespread use, portability and reusable modules.
I worked for TRW 37yrs now Northrop Grumman (now retired)
.. Labview was/is the language/platform of choice to develop test sets for Satellites, Semiconductor Parametric Test, Assemblies, Electronics and Systems of all sorts
Knowing languages such as Fortran will help to get you in the door for companies still using older computers, but 'C" is the bread & butter
JAVA & many others are written in 'C'
('C' can be made to look like many other languages it is flexible & versatile high level enough to be easier to code yet close enough to native machine language to be suitable for most applications)
High level languages such as JAVA will open doors to work in a wider breadth of assignments consequently of more value to your company.
If you love challenge, learning and applying assembly languages puts you on the most advanced level (fewer software types elect cause it's harder & unique to each processor: NCIS McGeek, so garner much respect from peers and managers, reflected in your salary)
I know I diverged a bit.. hope you find it interesting and stimulating..
Good luck in your continuing education and career what ever paths emerge.
A high level of enthusiasm and open mindedness always helps.
Dale
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