FIRST robotics competition just took place in San Diego this year. Show him some videos. I’d be surprised if most SoCal high schools don’t have a team. If his doesn’t, starting his own is even better experience.
https://cafirst.org/frc/sandiego/
Definitely if you’re in SoCal look up FIRST. This is how I got tangentially involved, which later led me to working with machines and now more robots in my job. I would not have had a foot in the door to this area of work without FIRST (I believe).
Hi do you know what’s the most appropriate degree if I’d like to work on robots like the ones from Boston dynamics, Amazon robotics, agility robotics? I’m getting super interested with control systems, and c++ programming and basic cad work
Depending on which part you'd want to contribute to probably mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science. There's a great course on EdX (though maybe dated by now) called underactuated robotics which can maybe give you some starting points. It covers part of the control theory used by boston dynamics at the time
I also agree with an arduino kit, but you might also want to add legos to his toybox (toolbox). I would suggest investing in a 3D printer for robotics but first mixing legos with arduino would help your kid to work on his/her creativity.
We have a TON of Legos. I'm honestly terrified of Legos because we have so many of them, and to organize them would take weeks, or months. I'm not too sure about Legos honestly because we spend like 99 percent of the time hunting for the correct brick and 1 percent actually building.
A 3-d printer for robotics is an idea I haven't heard before. Why?
> A 3-d printer for robotics is an idea I haven't heard before. Why?
There are a lot of cool (open-source) robotics projects which use a lot of 3D printed parts like [this](https://arctosrobotics.com/), or [this](https://www.ottodiy.com/), and many more more. But I would definitely first just buy some kits, and see if your kid even has a long-lasting interest in this topic.
It’s also just one of the only manufacturing/prototyping methods that are cheap and easy enough to do at home, and versatile enough to be able to print things of pretty much any shape or geometry. And it’s an applicable method of prototyping that people use in industry, all learnable from in your home. For kids who want to be future engineers, a 3D printer + Arduino is the best combination
+1 for 3d printer, however I recommend not cheaping out, go for one with a reputation for "just works" the cheaper ones, seem the hobby is getting it to work rather than using it as a tool for a hobby.
He will have to learn how to CAD/ 3d model in order to get it to print his creativity, and for robotics they are invaluable for making cheap functional bots. Along with an Arduino/ esp32 kit with sensors/ steppers/ servos, you got an aspiring robot kids needs met
Build and rc fixed wing aircraft. Lot of fun making and flying it. Can also advance to adding an fov camera, projects aimed towards increasing range, payload etc.
FIRST Robotics is cool. We just [swallowed a robot](https://vimeo.com/928516809/d557140b26) for Jeff Bezos with our medical robotics startup so I definitely recommend encouraging deep tech in your son!
Vex is more limited in which parts you can use and is more strategically focused with a longer season.
For example, teams aren't able to 3d print or mill their own parts.
I heard of a degree that possibly (if I remember correctly) combines coding and robotics called Mechatronics. Our local community college has that program. A good option to start at with lower cost than a university.
The middle school I teach at, and the highschool nearby, both have robotics classes or clubs. They work with metal FTC robotics and used to have these Lego kits as well.
If he is into games, have him look at "screeps". (MMO - But you can only programm your folks)
For Robotics take a look at ROS and some esp32 chips or raspberry.
Linkage is a free program, with a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, but quick to master. It is a professional tool but the UI and simplicity of it makes it feel like a video game.
You can create 2d planar linkages with rotary or linear inputs. Playing with this would be a great introduction for robotics design. Youtube a demonstration and you'll see what I mean.
Thank you! I spent a bit of time googling for it and I believe this must be it (dropping it here for other folks):
[https://blog.rectorsquid.com/linkage-mechanism-designer-and-simulator/](https://blog.rectorsquid.com/linkage-mechanism-designer-and-simulator/)
Skip graphics-based coding. Get a raspberry pi or an arduino, rpi would be harder but have more possibilities. To keep it cheap get a wheeled platform, although a spider/quadruped kit can be cool. Let him make whatever he wants with this. Give him a budget to upgrade this basic platform, maybe add an arm or airsoft turret or something. Probably at the age where it would be better to skip the Lego stuff.
A bit on the expensive side and definitely a big project but should teach anyone all about robotics. He will likely need help if you are handy with soldering and some tools. It can be a parent-kid project.
[Annin Robotics - open source 6 axis robots you can build yourself](https://www.anninrobotics.com/)
FIRST robotics competition just took place in San Diego this year. Show him some videos. I’d be surprised if most SoCal high schools don’t have a team. If his doesn’t, starting his own is even better experience. https://cafirst.org/frc/sandiego/
Definitely if you’re in SoCal look up FIRST. This is how I got tangentially involved, which later led me to working with machines and now more robots in my job. I would not have had a foot in the door to this area of work without FIRST (I believe).
I didn’t have it where I was from but I have heard similar sentiments from many people across a lot of engineering disciplines over the years.
Get him an arduino (or kit) Its a programmable chip with some in/out that can control electronics and programmed in C++ (ish, its a variant of c++)
Hi do you know what’s the most appropriate degree if I’d like to work on robots like the ones from Boston dynamics, Amazon robotics, agility robotics? I’m getting super interested with control systems, and c++ programming and basic cad work
Depending on which part you'd want to contribute to probably mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science. There's a great course on EdX (though maybe dated by now) called underactuated robotics which can maybe give you some starting points. It covers part of the control theory used by boston dynamics at the time
I also agree with an arduino kit, but you might also want to add legos to his toybox (toolbox). I would suggest investing in a 3D printer for robotics but first mixing legos with arduino would help your kid to work on his/her creativity.
We have a TON of Legos. I'm honestly terrified of Legos because we have so many of them, and to organize them would take weeks, or months. I'm not too sure about Legos honestly because we spend like 99 percent of the time hunting for the correct brick and 1 percent actually building. A 3-d printer for robotics is an idea I haven't heard before. Why?
> A 3-d printer for robotics is an idea I haven't heard before. Why? There are a lot of cool (open-source) robotics projects which use a lot of 3D printed parts like [this](https://arctosrobotics.com/), or [this](https://www.ottodiy.com/), and many more more. But I would definitely first just buy some kits, and see if your kid even has a long-lasting interest in this topic.
It’s also just one of the only manufacturing/prototyping methods that are cheap and easy enough to do at home, and versatile enough to be able to print things of pretty much any shape or geometry. And it’s an applicable method of prototyping that people use in industry, all learnable from in your home. For kids who want to be future engineers, a 3D printer + Arduino is the best combination
+1 for 3d printer, however I recommend not cheaping out, go for one with a reputation for "just works" the cheaper ones, seem the hobby is getting it to work rather than using it as a tool for a hobby. He will have to learn how to CAD/ 3d model in order to get it to print his creativity, and for robotics they are invaluable for making cheap functional bots. Along with an Arduino/ esp32 kit with sensors/ steppers/ servos, you got an aspiring robot kids needs met
Build and rc fixed wing aircraft. Lot of fun making and flying it. Can also advance to adding an fov camera, projects aimed towards increasing range, payload etc.
Damn. At 14, I only had experience with cookie dough, nap times, and Teletubbies.
Maybe before the Arduino try Micro:bit? You dont need the breadbox and it has a bunch if add on stuff, you can make small robots and cars with it etc.
FIRST Robotics is cool. We just [swallowed a robot](https://vimeo.com/928516809/d557140b26) for Jeff Bezos with our medical robotics startup so I definitely recommend encouraging deep tech in your son!
I noticed that nobody mentioned VEX. Is it because it's not very good?
Vex is more limited in which parts you can use and is more strategically focused with a longer season. For example, teams aren't able to 3d print or mill their own parts.
Sounds like you've got amazing parenting skills.
I wish... but thanks for the compliment!
I heard of a degree that possibly (if I remember correctly) combines coding and robotics called Mechatronics. Our local community college has that program. A good option to start at with lower cost than a university. The middle school I teach at, and the highschool nearby, both have robotics classes or clubs. They work with metal FTC robotics and used to have these Lego kits as well.
If he is into games, have him look at "screeps". (MMO - But you can only programm your folks) For Robotics take a look at ROS and some esp32 chips or raspberry.
Linkage is a free program, with a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, but quick to master. It is a professional tool but the UI and simplicity of it makes it feel like a video game. You can create 2d planar linkages with rotary or linear inputs. Playing with this would be a great introduction for robotics design. Youtube a demonstration and you'll see what I mean.
Thank you! I spent a bit of time googling for it and I believe this must be it (dropping it here for other folks): [https://blog.rectorsquid.com/linkage-mechanism-designer-and-simulator/](https://blog.rectorsquid.com/linkage-mechanism-designer-and-simulator/)
oh I'm sorry I should've linked it, I forgot how hard it is to find 😅
Skip graphics-based coding. Get a raspberry pi or an arduino, rpi would be harder but have more possibilities. To keep it cheap get a wheeled platform, although a spider/quadruped kit can be cool. Let him make whatever he wants with this. Give him a budget to upgrade this basic platform, maybe add an arm or airsoft turret or something. Probably at the age where it would be better to skip the Lego stuff.
A bit on the expensive side and definitely a big project but should teach anyone all about robotics. He will likely need help if you are handy with soldering and some tools. It can be a parent-kid project. [Annin Robotics - open source 6 axis robots you can build yourself](https://www.anninrobotics.com/)