Getting Started as a Robotics Software Engineer!

[@pablochacon3382]

I'm passionate about this. I am a mechanical engineer and I want to learn AI, mechanical, and software engineering robotics. My dream is to develop robots that can build spaceships in space or start to build structures on the moon and Mars to start to colonize them. Alsoto have a small Iron Man laboratory version.

[@mikelikesrobots]

This is a great goal!

[@sibiaadharshdamodaransampa479]

🦄

[@martinjh4448]

Great advice for the beginners. I have just started my masters in robotics in uk

[@mikelikesrobots]

Good luck, and keep building those projects - the more, the better!

[@2014akhan]

Thank you! Keep making videos!

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad you liked it! Let me know if you have questions :D

[@Obzrve]

Thanks for tips. Im glad I found this channel. I’m currently a computer science student. I have 5 years experience as an electrical control system technician. I have been tinkering with arduino and microcontrollers for years. I’m currently learning Java at school. But learned python at work. Finally understanding classes and methods for oop. I been thinking about but a kit with the jetson nano. I want to work in farmbot industry.

[@mikelikesrobots]

You're welcome! I encourage you to buy something and experiment for yourself - have fun with it. If you have experience with electrical control systems, arduino, and microcontrollers, you might be well equipped to build your own robot from scratch with that STM NUCLEO board I show in the video. Good luck!

[@ugwuchiagozie6990]

Thanks so much for this. Quite helpful

[@mikelikesrobots]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@nikkiinit]

Great video! That’s all the information anyone who wants to start need!

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad you found it useful!

[@heerthirajah1661]

awesome. thank you so much for the video

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad it was helpful! Time to start the journey :)

[@heerthirajah1661]

@@mikelikesrobots yep. Working on plan.

[@sagnikghatak1614]

Just started learning ROS a few days ago and youtube could not have recommended me a better video. As a Master's student in autonomous systems with no clarity on what to do, this video provided me with some great insight and tools.👍 How do i connect with you on linkedin?

[@mikelikesrobots]

Really glad you liked it! Let me know if you have any questions. As for LinkedIn, my account is linked on my profile, you can follow me there!

[@jackychan4640]

Thanks for your video and your explanation

[@mikelikesrobots]

You're welcome! Good luck finding a mentor and picking a good project!

[@arslan-p4d]

you are my professor and mentor😍😍😍

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's great to hear! I hope the videos continue to be useful for you!

[@arslan-p4d]

@@mikelikesrobots "Thank you! Your guidance is really helping me learn a lot!" 😊

[@BrutafulStudios01]

Thanks for posting!

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@greyskull-ww4of]

Thank you mike great video! if u have time please make more videos of you developing projects in ROS.

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's the plan! I'd love to do more with ROS, like showing how the nav stack works.

[@wendelmsall2716]

Great video. I love robots and would like to learn more about building, programming and operating them. On another note, does your advice also apply to those of us who also want to learn about drones? Thanks.

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's great! I hope you manage to learn all about robots. Yes, the advice does apply to drones, it's pretty much the same issues as the rest of robotics. I think it varies more for drones whether ROS is used or not, but learning those languages and practising using a real project are still great steps towards working on them full time.

[@prathamvjain7569]

Hi my area is interest is deep learning and reinforcement learning for robotics , till now I have learnt C++ python and ros2 and now I’m learning mL and deep learning and computer vision

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's great! Sounds like you have a solid grounding for building robotics. Maybe it's time to build a robot for yourself!

[@kostamokry2172]

Great video, thank you a lot.

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@raffayshahzad942]

Great video, Mike! What advice would you give to someone interested in programming ML algorithms for aerial robotics, specifically for quadcopters/drones in areas like object detection and collision avoidance? I'm a CS major and I'm considering pursuing this as a career path.

[@mikelikesrobots]

Glad you enjoyed it! That's a great question - I've touched on those areas but I don't have an in-depth understanding. I'd say get a lot of experience with ML, as many models as you can build. I've heard it said that ML is just as much an art form as it is science. A great grasp of statistics is a must. I'd also say that I'd prefer a conventional algorithm to an ML one so that it's repeatable, but at least I would hope that ML could interface with conventional algorithms, so you could research how to include normal code with your ML algorithm - maybe multiple models with code layers in between. Good luck in an exciting career path!

[@Raj-vz9fg]

Thank you very much my man! however i am EEE undergrad but not sure what to choose as my post graduate subject to pursue full robotic systems. thanks again!

[@mikelikesrobots]

You are welcome! I would recommend a robotics course if you can get one, or if not, your favourite area of robotics to pursue more deeply. For example, machine learning is heavily used for computer vision. You could also go straight into the industry, which is what I did!

[@KillerRobotz]

I been testing ros2 and gazebo for simulation and setting joints

[@kartikeyyendhe1840]

Thankyou, it really helpfull for me! please could you make videos on embedded systems??

[@mikelikesrobots]

I'm glad it was helpful! I'd love to cover some embedded systems at some point, maybe for a custom robot build - I'll keep it in mind that you asked :-)

[@arham1283]

Im starting my bachelor's in electronics and communication, what skill should i learn first as to be a robotics engineer in future??

[@mikelikesrobots]

Congrats on starting your degree! It sounds like you're more interested in the low-level side of robotics if you're studying electronics and communication. I would look into getting an arduino or similar and learning how to use serial communication, including UART, I2C, and SPI. Then look at building a board that you can control with an arduino, preferably including motors. This is very specific because the skills I would recommend are already in the video, such as focusing on software development. Let me know if you wanted a more general answer.

[@GameFiai]

Is this possible without any degree? I dropped out of college and took on a sales job but I have been learning python, data analysis and machine/deep learning for a few years now on my own.

[@mikelikesrobots]

It is possible to get into the field without a degree, but it will be more difficult! Bear in mind that you're competing with people that do have degrees. If you're willing to learn on the job based on what robotics companies need, you can do it. I stand by my advice in the video - a mentor is great, and practical experience will teach you so much, if you can get an internship or similar. Good luck!

[@GameFiai]

@@mikelikesrobots Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I’ve decided that I’m going to “speed-run” a software engineering degree at WGU. Seems virtually impossible without it, especially in this type of job market. I will also be applying all of your advice. Thank you!

[@KillerRobotz]

I got a hi wonder humanoid robot , i need to know how to make a urdf file that i can just replace and update to make the robot move n scan on its own , i wanna do python but its a xarco file or urdf

[@mikelikesrobots]

You'll need a xacro/urdf file for ROS to understand how the robot joints etc relate to each other. As to HOW to make that file, that's a lot of info to give in a comment! I don't have a video on building URDF from scratch, so you may need to look on other channels, such as Articulated Robotics.

[@KillerRobotz]

@@mikelikesrobots i know its alot , but i have phind , its like chat gpt but better it helps with most programming questions

[@KillerRobotz]

@@mikelikesrobots thank you i will check articulated robotics

[@RutikKharat-n6b]

How many and which programming languages are taught in Robotics Engineering?

[@mikelikesrobots]

The most common in robotics are Python and C++. There may be others, depending on the course, but I would expect to see at least these two. Also, there's a lot of overlap between C++ and C, so you'd have a good head start on learning C as well!

[@RutikKharat-n6b]

To become a Robotic Software Engineer we should major in Robotics Engineering or Computer Science & Engineering?

[@mikelikesrobots]

I would recommend robotics engineering. My personal opinion is that you can learn a lot of the programming from a computer science degree on the job. That doesn't mean it's not worth it - it's more a question of where is the best place to learn the concepts. I would learn programming at home and on the job, and the robotics at university. Good luck whichever you choose - they are both great options!

[@jonathans3021]

Thank you for the helpful video!! Question, would you say a strong level of theoretical knowledge is mandatory for being a Robotics Software Engineer? I often find myself comfortable with the basic concepts in localization and navigation, but creating my own SLAM algorithm using a 3D LiDAR for instance is beyond me at this point. Is this perhaps more of a perception engineer and a robotics software engineer works on a different aspect of things?

[@mikelikesrobots]

You're welcome! As for theoretical knowledge, it depends on your role and experience. I would expect a new robotics engineer to know very little, but be prepared to learn on the job, assuming they had the software development skills. The more theory and mathematics they know, the better they'll understand their application and avoid mistakes. So, for an experienced engineer, it absolutely is mandatory; for a graduate, they can learn through studying or on the job, but they will need to learn at some point to be effective. I would only expect an experienced perception engineer to be capable of building their own SLAM algorithm, not a standard robotics engineer or newer perception engineer. Basically, that's specialist knowledge, and a perception engineer is a robotics engineer specialising in perception. If that's your target, working through the mathematics and algorithms for SLAM would be a great idea!

[@jonathans3021]

@@mikelikesrobots Thank you for the helpful answer! Clears up a lot of my confusion as a soon to be new grad 😁

[@arpitmishra8996]

good video

[@mikelikesrobots]

Thank you!

[@alexandrep4913]

Do I have to work at amazon?

[@mikelikesrobots]

Of course not! You can work wherever you prefer. There are advantages and disadvantages of every job. I will say that Amazon has a lot of excellent engineers and a good attitude towards mentoring, but these are also available elsewhere. Best of luck finding something that suits you!

[@MiltonCN]

I'm a computer science and technology student can i become a robotics software engineer

[@mikelikesrobots]

Hi Milton! That's a great course to be taking to get into robotics - absolutely. If you try some of the languages and maybe robot projects I talk about in the video, it would be a good start to that career.

[@MiltonCN]

@@mikelikesrobots Thanks, if I want to become a robotic engineer do I need lots of math I don't like math that much what should I do

[@mikelikesrobots]

You don't really need that much maths to be able to work in robotics. There are transform libraries and maths libraries already available for you to use. You need to understand what you're doing, but not necessarily the maths behind it, so you should be fine. If you're already doing science and technology, you're likely doing enough maths already!

[@MiltonCN]

@@mikelikesrobots okay thanks

[@DrDrunk-wj7kd]

Hey there..... Dont know if you would reply but I need some guidance/help to start my carrer in robotics software engineer..... Currently i am in second year IT engineer ... I do not have a path or a mentor..... But i try to learn new things.... Made risc v 32 bit i processor on fpga

[@mikelikesrobots]

It's great you made the processor! That's advanced stuff. Is there anything beyond what's in the video? Pick a project you love & practise it, and with enough work you'll be able to find an internship and start your career.

[@DrDrunk-wj7kd]

Thaks for the reply...... But In which course I need to do my master? Aslo can we connect on linkdin i have sent you connection request

[@mikelikesrobots]

If you can find a robotics course, that's a good option. If you're in IT Engineering, you could see if computer science is an option. I would suggest talking to your professors for your best next step!

[@sylvainbodji1124]

so, one can become a very competent self taught robotic software engineer without going to university ?

[@trayjobe6995]

yes.

[@mikelikesrobots]

In short: yes, but it's more difficult. The longer answer: companies look for a university degree, and you're likely to have a harder time getting the job without one. Even a related degree is enough for employers (mine is in Electrical & Electronic Engineering). The major difficulty is getting that first job in the industry without a degree - once you're in the job, you will learn a huge amount very quickly. Yes, you can become a very competent self-taught robotics software engineer without going to university, but it will require persistence and a good grounding in robotics to take that first step. Once you have the practical experience on your resume, it will get easier.

[@sylvainbodji1124]

@@mikelikesrobots Thanks for your reply. i'm actually an agriculture engineer and fulstack web developper. i run my own small business and have lots of time. based on my previous experience in Agriculture, i see lots of needs for robotics in that industry. i have very specific ideas of robotics that could work; so i want to prepare for about two years learning robotics to start an agritech robotic startup to address the needs i see in agriculture. Could you suggest me a learning roadmap that i can follow for the next 2 years ?

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's very ambitious! I will give you a warning: robotics tooling is nowhere near as mature as web development tooling. Developing robots is a very slow and expensive process that requires a lot of people - one of the reasons I'm doing what I'm doing is to try to make it faster, cheaper, and easier. As to your question - learn ROS, gRPC, enough cloud tooling (mostly IoT); then start building small robotics projects and build up in complexity. Lean on the community and try to build up a team. All robotics projects that go into production need a full team - robotics is simply too complex right now to do alone.

[@trayjobe6995]

Im wanting to go from a Network Engineer to Robotics Engineer. I am currently learning Python. My plan is to learn python basics using the Python Crash Course book, afterwards, I want to start learning as many projects as I can. Then, as I get proficient in Python, maybe start learning c++ while still using python as practice to say fresh there as well. You recommend waiting to learn c++ before getting a jetbot or I may be able to do some things w python as well ?

[@mikelikesrobots]

It's great you're picking up Python! You'll be able to write most robotics code in Python - it's only when you get to writing motor controllers or something very low level that you'll need C++. I'd recommend sticking to Python for now, and when you're feeling more confident, try learning C++ as well. If you want to see more JetBot info, I have a playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLBrq1OKRHMwXE9nNaaN7SMofoYJcqAqCj&si=FIcVDEnObPXxskeI

[@chaitanyapatankar1298]

Thank you man hope we can connect on LinkedIn

[@mikelikesrobots]

You're welcome!

[@dubaifatimaali]

I use leet code for challenges to improve my programming skills in all languages. Taught 100+ students awarded by academies of US for best coding educator has improved my programming skills within years as well. Thanks for your video. Also I teach robotics and its get more interesting everytime when you get to do projects with students. I wish to do online Masters in Robotics and AI. @Mike Likes Robots or If anyone knows any university which is offering online MS in Robotics please let me know in comments. I would really appreciate it. I can't attend regular one. So online would be best for me.

[@mikelikesrobots]

That's great that Leetcode works so well for you! I still wouldn't advise using it for beginners - it's harder to stay motivated than building your own passion project. As for online Masters, I'm afraid I can't help, I don't know anything in that area.

[@CodeMechanicsLLC]

The OMSCS program from Georgia Tech is a popular online Master's option for ML/AI. I'm not familiar with any Robotics online programs though. Robotics often requires being hands-on with hardware which makes it somewhat impractical for an online academic program.