how do i get into medical robotic engineering field from high school?

Hi Brandon,

What is good advice for someone who's interested in robotics and needs to pick their high school subjects?

At the most basic level there are some core subjects which you need to get started in robotics:

Mathematics - This is a must. You don't have to be John Nash, but a good grasp of algebra and geometry are essential to all of the subjects which make up robotics.

Physics (or another science) - Having a solid understanding of science is important for all branches of engineering. Physics is particularly useful because it gives grounding knowledge in energy, electrical circuits, mechanics, material science and other key topics for robotics. However, all sciences are useful as they teach how to apply mathematics to real world problems.

Other Useful Subjects

Every country has a different set of subjects that are taught in schools, so it's difficult to specify a list which is applicable to everyone. So, instead here are the core skillset which is useful for robotics and some subjects which provide them:

Computing and Programming - Programming is pretty important for robotics, so subjects like Computer Science and Information Systems are a great choice.

Design and Technology - Subjects that can boost the practical side of engineering include Product Design, Graphic Communication, Technological Studies and Manufacturing.

Specific Engineering Disciplines - Some schools provide subjects in specific engineering disciplines such as Automotive, Bioengineering, Electronics, Mechatronics and Mechanical engineering. All of these can be beneficial for aspiring roboticists.

CHOOSING A DEGREE IN ROBOTICS

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  "The Body" - Mechanical Engineering - This branch of engineering looks at the physical systems which make up a robot. Subtopics like mechanics, materials engineering and manufacturing are core to industrial robotics. Often mechanical engineering courses will have specialization in mechatronics or robotics, but will be focused more on physical design and actuation.

  
  


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  "The Nervous System" - Electrical and Electronic Engineering This branch of engineering gives a basis in electronics, embedded systems, low-level programming and control theory. Often electrical engineering courses will also provide specializations in robotics or automation, which will be centered around the control of robots rather than the mechanical design.

  
  


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  "The Brain" - Computer Science - A lot of people in research seem to enter robotics through computer science. This trend is likely to continue as standard robotic hardware platforms become the norm. Common platforms remove the research focus from the physical hardware and instead concentrate on software and high-level programming. Often these courses will include robotic programming topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Software Design. It is usually at this level of study where a people with a background in psychology and related fields can enter robotics with a postgraduate Masters course.

  
  

Take a look at the NASA Career Corner and you will some great advice from robotics professionals on how to get started in robotics. Many of them recommend getting some extracurricular hands-on experience with robots throughout your education.

Getting physical experience or fiddling with robots, electronics, programming and mechanics is essential to truly understand the theory behind it. It also allows you to find out which parts of robotics you are really most interested in.

Robot kits, like Lego Mindstorms, are a good place to start playing with robotics at home, as are embedded systems like Raspberry Pi.

One of the best ways to get hands-on experience is to enter one of the many robotics competitions, which are available for various age and education levels.

Read more in:

http://blog.robotiq.com/what-to-study-for-a-career-in-robotics

I wish you much success in your projects!