3 ms·
Since you certainly have the discipline to pull self-study off, I would suggest emailing a professor teaching undergraduate classes in Mechatronics or Embedded
by physcab 16y ago
Since you certainly have the discipline to pull self-study off, I would suggest emailing a professor teaching undergraduate classes in Mechatronics or Embedded Systems at Stanford, Cornell or Carnegie Mellon. They have very solid programs in robotics as they are always big contenders in the DARPA grand challenges. Get a syllabus and buy the books. When I took those classes, it was a lot of self-study anyways with our primary reference being The Art of Electronics and a bunch of AVR processor manuals. If you live in San Jose / Santa Clara area there are some GREAT electronics depots where you can stroll up and walk away with a bunch of servo motors for under $20 and start hardware-hacking.
Don't go back to school though. I think its a bit overkill. Having a PhD you already possess the skills to find the right resources and just begin doing what you want...no need to relearn the theory (unless that is half the fun for you). To address the isolation concern, I would suggest to find a hardware company (perhaps medical) that you could intern at. Try and find a mentor who can show you the ropes quicker than if you were to be by yourself.
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- fuzzythinker 16y agoHere's a list of open online courses from over the world: http://www.ocwconsortium.org/use/use-dynamic.html http://www.ocwconsortium.org/use/use-dynamic.html Missing/Better versions from the list are: http://see.stanford.edu/ http://see.stanford.edu/ http://education.jimmyr.com/ http://education.jimmyr.com/ http://itunes.extension.harvard.edu/ http://itunes.extension.harvard.edu/
- Morinu 16y agoCan you give more info on the electronics depots in the San Jose/Santa Clara area please?
- physcab 16y agoYea, I used to go to Halted and Triangle Machinery Co.. There's also the Electronics Flea Market hosted by amateur radio societies that has good deals too but you have to get there right when it opens (5am) to get the best stuff. http://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/ http://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/ San Jose State University keeps a good list of local surplus depots here: http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/bjfurman/courses/ME106/componentinfo.htm http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/bjfurman/courses/ME106/componentinf...
- zatara 16y agoGood advice, thanks. What would be the best way to balance the time needed for hacking and background acquisition? One thing at a time (e.g. read SICP, then hack something in Scheme) or in parallel (read 2 hours/day and hack during the rest)?