Expert: Saurabh Kudesia - 4/16/2005

Question
dear Saurabh Kudesia
i have the following questions:

what computer languages are necessary to learn in order to start learning robotics?

apart from computer science, is there any other knowledge required in order to develop robots? would a Bachelor's degree in computer science be enough to start studying robotics?

thank you very much
CSCIstudent

Answer
Hi,

A review of robot programming systems was conducted
in 1983 by Tomas Lozano{Perez [1982]. At that
time, robots were only common in industrial environments,
the range of programming methods was very limited,
and the review examined only industrial robot programming
systems. A new review is necessary to determine
what has been achieved in the intervening time,
and what the next steps should be to provide convenient
control for the general population as robots become ubiquitous in our lives.

For a comprehensive coverage of robotics programming langauges have a look at:

http://www.ele.auckland.ac.nz/~robot/publications/files/acra03-gbbm.pdf

For developing robots, I think a bachelor's in computer science is sufficient to provide you enough directions. Considering the fact that robotics is a combination of techniques derived from other streams of engineering, you may have to learn some tricks from electronics and  mechanical stream as well.

Keep going and never loose the touch...

Regards
Saurabh