How did you learn about robotics/electronics?

[Charlie1138]

Hello everyone. I am a total noob to the electronics/robotics scene, and am trying to teach myself, without any school training. So, I am curious to see how everyone here was introdued to electronics and robotics. What is a good way to get your feet wet? I am just looking for the best way to get started. What are some good beginner projects and books?

Admin, I am especially curious to see how you got into this and how you first started learning about electronics.

Or maybe you guys would do it differently, knowing what you know now, and take a quicker more direct route?

[polar bear6]

i got into robotics by seeing a movie called Virus, its about an alien lifeform thats transmitted (its made purely out of engergy) down to an russian military vessel wich just happens to have an advanved robotic controlled robotic lab, and it makes all these little walker robots wich goes arround and eats people and sooner it makes bigger robots out of human carcusses and stuff, really cool movie.
i espescially liked the robots with guns mounted on them, and it shoot so fast and it was like "damn i gotta make me one of those cyborgs, maybe il have to start with something simpler first, like a biped or a 6 legged walker"

and soon after i orderd Junkbots, bugbots and bots on weels and Robot Building for beginners.

http://fiorerobotics.solarbotics.net/index.html
that was the first site i read about robotics.

[Admin]

The book I read as a beginner was Robot Builders Bonanza, the top link on the robot books page. The best book out there for beginners.

I started building robots in early 2002 not having a clue to what I was doing. I just kept asking questions to everyone I knew . . . My first bot was a failure (and the next 5 bots were successful/functional but had some large level of failure, too), but I learned a lot in the process. If you want to learn, what I recommend is just starting a project and just go with what little you know. You cant expect to know how to build a robot without ever building one 

You should also get books on robot theory, and read science papers on robots. This will teach you more advanced algorithms, and give you new ideas for more robots in the future.

Take electronics, programming, and mechanical engineering related classes. I was a mechE and filled my electives with all CS, robotics, and electrical classes.

I think the best way to learn is just to build a lot of robots, and by your second or third you will know what you are doing 

The recommended first robot project is a photovore. Anyone who has built a robot will agree with me on this. 

[Charlie1138]

Thanks a lot guys! Very very interesting. That helps me a lot. PolarBear, I have to check out that movie. Sounds really cool!

[Joesavage1]

Ive got robot builders bonanza third edition too, its a great book for learning (although i still havent picked up some stuff yet, that will come with actions im guessing)

Joe

[Razor Concepts]

I was flying RC planes and helicopters when I wanted to make a UAV. I learned I needed a microcontroller and that led me to SoR 

[cooldog]

i am very surprised no one has suggested the $50 robot

anyway i learned the little i know about robotics by reading admins tutorials on the main site (i didn't know of the forum so i just read the tutorials) and forum posts if you look for the first 3+ months i posted alot with questions

[superchiku]

it was my interest  and i learned robotics a year ago....i jst did research and more research ...learned everything ftom the net...and ya from our very own societofrobots.com

[RiffRaff]

Definately build the $50 robot.  The tutorial is a great way to learn.  And follow all the links.  Read and take notes.  I am nearly finished with my photovore   Oddly, I've spent a lot more time than I imagined I would trying to get the wheels just right, and reconfiguring my chasis.

Admin has forged a path- take it.  And don't be afraid to ask questions.

Riff

[SciTech02]

I saw an article in a travel magazine a long time ago about "soccer playing robots".  I don't remember the article much, but I remember how it intrigued me.  I then started to research robotics.  All of this led me to buy a Parallax BOE Bot off eBay; it was an all-in-one kit and looked quite flexible (I could modify it and all).  From that, my knowledge of electronics expanded greatly and I learned general programming.  That robot lasted for over a year until I "outgrew" it (although looking back, I could have done much more with it).  So that's what happened to me; I basically learned everything about robots from a kit, but I probably could have had the same success with the $50 robot and the internet.