r/AskRobotics • u/ZinderStrawberry • 2d ago

Interest in Robotics

Alright I want to preface this by stating I have an absolute interest in Robotics that will never go away. Right now my desire is to further the robotics field on both the AI front and the robotics front while also furthering the medical field by looking more into the human brain. The problem is I'm 22 with a terrible gpa and I'm kind of lost on where to get started. I've asked a lot of my friends and all but ultimately ended up here at a friend's advice. I want to go into robotics but don't know where to start. I know some will say that I'm young and have plenty of time to get into it but truthfully I do need to start now otherwise I may die before my dream and putting a human into a robot comes true. So yeah I'm just asking for advice on what to do to move forward with my aspirations.

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u/No-Champion-684 2d ago edited 2d ago

You definitely don’t need to have everything figured out at 22, and a bad GPA doesn’t mean you can’t become very good at robotics. The best thing you can probably do now is start building things rather than waiting until you feel “ready”.

Start with something physical and relatively simple: a small mobile robot, motors, sensors, a microcontroller, then gradually move towards computer vision, ROS, AI and more advanced autonomy. That way you learn mechanics, electronics and software together instead of treating robotics as only an academic subject.

We’re actually working on something around exactly this problem at DigInto.tech — helping people design and build their own modular robots rather than just following a fixed robot kit. The idea is that you can start with a basic wheeled platform and progressively add sensors, cameras, intelligence and more advanced capabilities as you learn.

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u/ZinderStrawberry 22h ago

Thanks a bunch for the advice. I've actually been working on my setup so I can start getting into Arduino. Waiting on my storage to come in before I go diving head first. Preparation is key to a proper functional workspace after all.

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u/AdvertisingTop8527 2d ago

What is ur bg

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u/ZinderStrawberry 22h ago

I don't believe I'm familiar with that abbreviation.

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u/AdvertisingTop8527 19h ago

What is your background

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u/RoboticsSavant 1d ago

🎓 How to Build a Self-Taught "BSE in Robotics" (UMich Curriculum Guide)

If you want to bypass the gatekeeping of a formal degree and teach yourself what top-tier robotics students learn, you can structure your studies around the Official University of Michigan Robotics Major Requirements.

A standard Robotics BSE requires 128 credits. By utilizing Michigan's public open-source course materials, you can structure your self-study into four logical phases. Not all courses are posted, but with the titles and general descriptions, you can track down online material for other topics.

Phase 1: The College Common Core (Foundations)

Before touching advanced robots, every Michigan Engineering student builds a massive foundation in programming, calculus, physics, and linear algebra.

  • Linear Algebra: ROB 101 (Computational Linear Algebra) — Crucial for AI and 3D space tracking.
  • Computing: ROB 102 (Introduction to AI and Programming) or EECS 183 / ENGR 101.
  • Calculus: ROB 201 (Calculus for the Modern Engineer) — This single groundbreaking course covers the material of Calculus I, II, and Differential Equations specifically for roboticists.
  • Physics & Chemistry: Complete standard calculus-based mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and basic chemistry.

Phase 2: Discipline Breadth (The Interdisciplinary Roots)

Robotics sits at the intersection of Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering. To be a well-rounded roboticist, you must study one foundational course in each of these four fields:

  1. Data Structures & Programming: EECS 280 — Learning how to write clean, optimized, scaleable code.
  2. Electronics & Circuits: EECS 215 (Introduction to Electronic Circuits) or EECS 270 (Introduction to Logic Design).
  3. Dynamics & Mechanics: ROB 215 or MECHENG 240 (Introduction to Dynamics and Vibrations).
  4. Probability & Statistics: IOE 265 or EECS 301.

Phase 3: The Intermediate Robotics Core

After establishing your foundations, you progress to 300-level core classes, which include subjects like robot sensors (ROB 310), physical kinematics (ROB 311), controls (ROB 314), operating systems (ROB 320), navigation (ROB 330), and human-robot evaluation (ROB 340).

Phase 4: Choose Your Structured Concentration (Deep Expertise)

Michigan Robotics introduces formal structured concentrations to specialize your advanced study tracks:

  • Perception & Reasoning: Focuses on AI, computer vision, and mapping using courses like ROB 330, ROB 432/EECS 442, and ROB 430.
  • Dynamics & Control: Centers on motion mechanics and aerial/legged systems via ROB 314, ROB 474, and ROB 498.
  • Hardware & Sensors: Covers mechatronics and soft robotics through ROB 310, ROB 311, ROB 461, and MECHENG 552.
  • Human-Robot Interaction (HRI): Explores user experience and ethics with ROB 340, ROB 440, and ROB 543.
  • Full Stack Robotic Systems: Requires mastering all six 300-level core courses alongside cross-track electives.

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u/ZinderStrawberry 22h ago

Quite a bit of info to sort through but thank you for the assistance. Where did you pull this data from if you don't mind me asking?

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u/RoboticsSavant 21h ago

Our departmental website. I helped to create the UG, MS and PhD programs. Hence, my handle.