<p>The title of this post completely encompasses how I feel. I am a high school senior who is going to graduate soon, my college is selected yes and all that good stuff is handled. HOWEVER, I have a huge problem, I have always know that I wanted to do Engineering but I just can't choose. I love to build robots that is my love, life, and passion; I will never forsake it. I had searched tirelessly and originally I wanted to do Aereunatical engineering, but a family member of mine, who is an engineer said I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket, so I picked mechanical engineering, but since I loved robotics I wanted to do mechatronics. However the family member said. I shouldn't put my eggs in one basket and I decided to double major in mechanical and electrical engineering. But now that family member is saying that I shouldn't split my efforts and instead should focus on one discipline. So I'm stuck I want to be in an engineering field where I can go through the whole engineering process and engage on the research and development process. I want to CAD the robot, select the hardware(sensors, electronics, materials) I want to build it, assemble the linkages and electronics, and I want to program and debug too. I am currently working in a research project where I get to go through that whole process, I just don't want to be stuck doing one thing can anyone help me choose a major. Between mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering? </p>
<p>Hi, I’m a sophomore also pretty confused about my major. I’m in computer science right now, and I can tell you it’s what it sounds like – sitting in front of the computer.</p>
<p>I won’t pretend to know which engineering major is the best, but I’ll just say it’s impossible where I’m going to double major in two engineering disciplines, like mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. You can probably make a four-year plan where you fit the units in, but it’s not practical. I think It’s better to just focus on one major.</p>
<p>Mechanical engineering is about robots, physical things, grease.
Electrical engineering is about circuits, electronics.
Computer engineering is like electrical engineering but with a focus on computers?
I’m bad at this haha.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’d suggest something like taking introductory classes for both engineering disciplines starting out and then picking one. Look at which classes you enjoy more, and which you’d like to do as a profession when you graduate.</p>
<p>Double majoring in engineering is usually not a wise idea. One discipline is challenging enough Two? even if you could do it (assuming the school allows you to), you aren’t getting out in 4 years. Maybe looking at 6-8 total years. In that same time you could get a bs in one area and a post grad degree in another area. So maybe B.S. in MechE, and Masters in CS, PhD. in ElecE? Depends on where you want to go exactly. Also since you want to do R&D, you’ll probably have to get your PhD anyway. </p>
<p>First thing is to calm down. Many high school students are confused as to what to major in at college. The subject matter of high school is very general and doesn’t give you an understanding of what is involved in the various branches of engineering. </p>
<p>The first year of college in an engineering program is common for all fields of engineering. It is a continuation of the general STEM fields (physics, chemistry, math, etc.) but at a faster pace and in more depth. Freshman year is also a time to explore. Go talk to the professors in the fields that you are interested in. They will be more than glad to talk with you (although some can be busy enough that you might have to make an appointment). Explore the various offerings (seminars, competitions, lectures, etc.) that the departments offer. </p>
<p>Some colleges don’t have students make a department selection until their sophomore year as many times you really don’t have the background to intelligently make that decision until then. I believe that delaying the decision until sophomore year is the best way to go as it is a better informed decision.</p>
<p>^ great advise </p>
<p>Mechanical is about designing the parts that makes your robot walk. Electrical is about making your robots walk using electricity or battery. Computer is about making your robots think for itself so it won’t keep on hitting the wall and instead turn when it finds a wall. If you wanted to make robots function like people, electrical engineers will do that kind of work. Electrical engineers also will design the program to make that robot function because knowing computer hardware and software are course requirements for electrical engineers. Go to a college that has that kind of requirements, otherwise you’ll end up working for a company that does not do research or work on robots.</p>
<p>^ except that it isn’t as simple as just the mechanical or the electrical point of view to design and build a robot. You can go ahead and command the robot to move but the part will have a mass moment of inertia (i.e., a mechanical property) that will resist the movement. If it is large enough, it will cause a delay in the response and mechanical loads will be present in the part. If the actuator provides too much force compared to the strength of the part, it breaks (so you may need to modulate the actuator). You may also cause an oscillation to occur in the part. If you have a position sensor that is reading the position at the same frequency (or nearly so) of the natural frequency of the part, then you have a control-structural interaction that may cause big problems. </p>
<p>So what’s the point of the above discussion?</p>
<p>Real engineering is many times a mixture of different fields. Various departments in college will combine these to offer a vast array of possibilities to the student. You need to get involved with your school of choice to discover what and where you want to study. </p>
<p>My son liked robotics and ended up specializing in “mechatronics” within his school’s mechanical engineering department. He has been working in the field a few years now and really enjoys it. BTW, his job title is “software engineer”. So don’t get hung up about titles, ask and inquire about content.</p>
<p>
@mathbscs :</p>
<p>I know mechanical engineers and ME graduate students working in the area of robotics/mechatronics who literally do all of these things. There is a lot of overlap, and a great variety of skillsets.</p>
<p>The site below might actually help you decide what to major in since many comments are from professionals and former students who studied robotics. Computer Science does not deal with robotics directly, but AI or Artificial Intelligence is part of the computer science field and it is needed to make intelligent robots. AI can involve a lot of theoretical math, like all topics of abstract algebra. But there is not a lot of employment in AI right now because the subject is hard, still unknown, and there is no demand for it in the business sector.</p>
<p><a href=“Reddit - Dive into anything”>http://www.reddit.com/r/robotics/comments/1p3ivc/what_majors_should_i_go_for_to_work_in_robotics/</a></p>
<p>If your school has Engineering Physics it might be a good compromise. I’ve often thought that physics covers all the topics used in mechatronics. However, don’t worry about it too much yet. after your first year you will have a clearer picture having talked to other students and faculty.</p>
<p>I think Robotics is a mixture of mechanical engineering, Computer Science, and EE. As long as you take enough classes to satisfy those 3 areas, I think it’s ok to do Mechanical Engineering. Here is a previous thread regarding this subject.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1055724-ideal-major-for-robotics.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1055724-ideal-major-for-robotics.html</a></p>
<p>I had a certificate in AI from UCLA back in the early 80s, Expert Systems is one of the course, IIRC, but the field must have changed a lot since.
It sounds like Robotics and Expert Systems are related.
Take a look at MIT open courseware in AI for more current information.
<a href=“Artificial Intelligence | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | MIT OpenCourseWare”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-034-artificial-intelligence-fall-2010/</a></p>
<p>I’d advise you to start as mechanical and look for opportunities to gain experience at your school’s robotics lab. Mechanical is much much broader than nuts, bolts, and grease. I think people get confused mechanical engineers with mechanics. </p>