How to Learn Robotics

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Find out the skills you need to get started in robotics, plus helpful resources

Co-authored by Stephen Cognetta, MBA

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 Approved

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Learning the Basics

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Building Your Robotics Skills

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Studying Advanced Robotics

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Robotics is a hobby that can bring lasting enjoyment and even become a future career as you program and build your robots. If you want to learn robotics, the best way to do so is developing develop proficiency in computer science, coding, physics, and linear algebra. From there, you can take robotics classes, participate in clubs and competitions, and build on your basic robotics abilities to strengthen your skills over time. No matter your age or computer science abilities, anyone can learn this fun and fascinating subject.

Learning Robotics for Beginners

Learn the basic fundamentals of robotics. Study coding, linear algebra, physics, and computer science online or in school.
Put your skills in practice. Assemble robot building kits or try to build your own robot.
Join robotic clubs and robotics competitions to learn from others and showcase your work.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Learning the Basics

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1
Practice basic coding so you can program your robots. Coding is a foundational element of robotics, and you will need to know how to use variables, create conditional statements, use functions, and other basic coding skills. Choose a coding language and study it on your own or take coding classes to improve your skills. ^{[1]
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- The most popular coding languages for robotics are Python and C++.
- Websites like Free Code Camp are good resources. There are also boot camps that you can go to for a period of time to learn coding or software engineering.
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Learn linear algebra to prepare you for building robots. Basic algebra is essential for both programming a robot and tweaking its code. Take plenty of algebra courses in high school or college, or study algebra on your own to strengthen your mathematical skills. ^{[2]
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- If you have trouble with mathematics and are still a student, talk to your math teacher or professor for help. Many pre- and post-secondary schools also have math help labs to teach struggling students key concepts.
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Study physics as a background for learning robotics. Building robots involves understanding how your robot moves and interacts with the outside world. If you haven't taken a physics course before, enroll in an online program or learn basic physics on your own. ^{[3]
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- Many web-based institutions, like KhanAcademy and The Open University, offer physics, mathematics, and even computer science courses for free.
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Study computer science to strengthen your robotics skill. Robotics is strongly connected to computer science, and a strong understanding of the latter is key to learning the former. Practice or study basic computer skills and try to keep up-to-date on articles or websites about computer science. ^{[4]
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- Many community colleges offer online or in-person computer science courses at a reduced cost, even if you don't enroll in a program.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Building Your Robotics Skills

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1
Build your robot using a kit or on your own to build your first robot. Once you've learned the basic skills for robotics, purchase a robot building kit and build your robot using coding, mathematics, and manual tinkering based on the kit's instructions. Alternatively, you can also build your own using parts and tools you can purchase from most hardware stores. ^{[5]
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- You can buy robot building kits online or from many electronics stores.
- Start with simple robots and, as you gain experience, move on to complex models over time.
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Take robotics courses in-person or online to strengthen your skills. While studying robotics on your own is helpful, robotics courses can teach you advanced techniques. Ask your local colleges or community centers if they offer robotics classes, or enroll in an online course to either develop or strengthen your robotics skills. ^{[6]
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- If you don't have the time for a robotics class, you can try reading books or articles on robotics instead.
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Join a robotics club to share your passion with others and receive advice. Robotics is not just a hobby—if you're interested in building robots with other people, it can also be a way to make lasting friendships. Join a robotics club at your school or community center to share your hobby with other people and learn new ways to build robots. ^{[7]
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- If you can't find any robotics clubs in your area, consider starting your own instead.
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Enter robotics competitions when you're ready to showcase your projects. Once you've learned how to program basic robots, enroll your inventions in a local or large robotics competition. No matter how you do, robotics competitions can be a great way to test your robots and learn ways to make them better. ^{[8]
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- If you're not comfortable entering a competition, you can always attend one first. Not only can you get a feel for what robotics competitions are like, but you can also find inspiration for your robots by watching all of the different competitions.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Studying Advanced Robotics

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1
Learn trigonometry and statistics for advanced robotics. While linear algebra is sufficient for basic robots, you may need to learn advanced mathematics to build complex ones. Study trigonometry or statistics on your own, or take a course online or with a local college. ^{[9]
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- If you struggle with advanced mathematics, ask a fellow robotics hobbyist for advice. They may be able to relate mathematics to skills you both know and understand to make learning new concepts easier.
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Study the Robot Operating System to customize your projects. The Robot Operating System (ROS) is the most common software system for building robots. If you want to build your complex robots without the help of a kit or guide, learning how to use the ROS can help you program your inventions. ^{[10]
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- Using ROS requires proficiency in a coding language, preferably C++ or Python. Before you download the ROS, spend time honing your computer programming skills first.
- You can also take a course in ROS online or at some colleges to learn more about the software and clear up any questions you have.
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Obtain a degree in robotics engineering if desired. If you're serious about robotics, a degree in robotics engineering can teach you how to design, troubleshoot, and repair complex robots. Finish a bachelor's degree in robotics engineering to learn more about the robots industry and learn advanced skills. ^{[11]
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- For schools that don't offer robotics engineering, mechanical engineering can provide similar skills for building and programming robots.
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Become a robotics engineer to make your hobby a career. If you develop a passion for your hobby, robotics engineering is a career that involves the design and creation of robots. To become a robotics engineer, most companies require a bachelor's or, preferably, master's degree in robotics engineering or a related engineering field. ^{[12]
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- Some related fields of study include mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering .
- Duties for robotics engineers include designing and testing robots, debugging codes, servicing or repairing robots, and integrating robots with electronic devices.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do beginners learn robotics?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Start with the basics. Practice some basic coding so you know how to use variables, create conditional statements, use functions, and other basic commands. This will allow you to program your robots. You may also want to spend some time studying linear algebra, which will help you build robots. Go online and look up articles and websites about computer science you can form a basic understanding, which will help you build up your robotics skill. From there, you can get a basic robotics kit and work on building your first robot!

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Is Python used in robotics?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Yes, Python is one of the most popular coding languages for robotics. All robotics uses a specific coding language that allows you to create conditional statements, functions, and input other coding commands. While there are multiple coding languages, and each one of them is different, most robotics use either Python and C++.

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Is robotics a good career?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

In many countries, robotics is an expanding high-end professional job, so yes, it's a very good career. If you land a job, you'll likely earn well over $100,000 USD. However, you'll need to complete several years of school and earn multiple certifications to be considered a candidate for most high-end positions. However, once you graduate you will likely be able to find a job because the industry is always growing.

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Tips

Developing skills in robotics takes time, effort, and dedication. If you have a hard time learning the basics at first, don't give up. Keep practicing your weaknesses until they eventually become strengths.

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Learning to code is one of the most important skills for building and programming robots. Before you take a robotics course or build first a robot, practice basic coding in a popular language like Java, C++, or Python.

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Warnings

Learning robotics and building robots involve handling electrical objects that must be handled carefully. If you're a kid or young adult, always practice robotics under adult supervision.

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How to Learn Robotics

Learning Robotics for Beginners

Steps

Learning the Basics

Building Your Robotics Skills

Studying Advanced Robotics

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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