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Unread 15-05-2012, 20:04
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EricH EricH is offline
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FRC #1197 (Torbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
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Re: Help finding a good career

Quote:
Originally Posted by jerrymaurer View Post
What course should I take, if I want to learn more about robotics?
That depends a LOT on where you're going and what you're interested in. Here's why, and what you want to do...

1) Robotics is often a graduate-level program of study, if it's offered. You need your undergrad education--maybe minor/concentrate in robotics if you can. (Also note that robotics is not all of engineering. I spent 5 years building R/C aircraft in college...)
2) Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science are all valid ways to get more into the robotics side (computer engineering builds the computers that computer science programs and electrical engineering wires together; mechanical folks have to make sure that nothing breaks while it's in operation).
3) So, here's what you want to do: Make sure that whichever course of study you take, it has at least two of the other three I mentioned included. Where I went to college as a Mechanical, all the MEs had to take a basic C++ course and a basic circuits course. Then we all had to join the electricals for a class in Mechatronics.

Mechatronics is where you'd be looking. The thing is that you need the fundamentals first. Get those, then you take courses "outside" your major to get the skills for robotics.
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Past teams:
2003-2007: FRC0330 BeachBots
2008: FRC1135 Shmoebotics
2012: FRC4046 Schroedinger's Dragons

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