Robotics Overview

Fellow presentation and intro to your career path

My name is Atharva Gupta, and I am originally from India. Ever since my school days, I have been captivated by the field of Robotics. I was always good at coding, but I didn’t want to become just a software engineer and wanted to code on hardware, so I decided to pursue my bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering which gave me exposure to coding and at the same time play with hardware as well.  During my undergraduate studies, I was inspired by the numerous fascinating Robotics projects undertaken by my peers. Being particularly interested in F1 cars, I decided to join a team that designed student built F1 cars for global competitions.

After a year, my thirst for knowledge grew, and I embarked on my own project called Mars Rover Manipal. This project involved competing in a rover competition against teams from all over the world, hosted in the US. Following my graduation, I secured a position at the multinational engineering and technology company, Bosch, where I worked on testing new cars on Dyno and participated in various robotics projects related to vehicles, such as the Auto-cancellation of Indicators in Two-wheelers.

During my tenure at Bosch, my passion for Robotics and Machine Learning intensified, leading me to pursue my Masters in Robotics and Machine Learning at North Carolina State University in 2018. Unfortunately, just before I could complete my degree, the COVID pandemic struck, causing a downturn in the job market. However, I consider myself fortunate to have landed a job as a Machine Learning engineer at Apple, working on their support website. While it was a valuable experience, I yearned to align my career more closely with my true passion.

It was during this time that I came across an exceptional opportunity with AIM Intelligent. Machine, a startup focused on automating construction and mining machines where we focus on automating construction machines. Although I had envisioned working with smaller robots, cars, or drones, I find the work we do here truly fascinating. At AIM, we employ full end-to-end automation to operate some of the largest machines in the world. As a Robotic and Machine Learning Engineer, my responsibilities include controlling the robots and conducting live tests on these massive machines.

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‍Robotics career options   

Here I listed a few examples of the diverse career options available within the field of Robotics. It’s important to note that many of these roles can overlap or have specialized subfields, offering even more opportunities for specialization and growth.

• ‍Robotics Engineer
  A Robotics Engineer designs, develops, and implements robotic systems and automation solutions. They are responsible for creating and programming robots that perform various tasks, ranging from industrial applications to autonomous vehicles and healthcare devices. Robotics Engineers work on integrating sensors, actuators, and artificial intelligence to enable robots to perceive their environment and make intelligent decisions. Additionally, they conduct testing, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement to enhance the efficiency and safety of robotic systems.
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• ‍Software Engineer
  As a Software Engineer, your role involves developing, implementing, and maintaining software solutions for robotic systems. You will work on control algorithms, sensor integration, user interfaces, and real-time systems to enable efficient and autonomous robotic operations. Additionally, you'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and contribute to the advancement of robotics technology.
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• Machine Learning Engineer
  As a Machine Learning Engineer, you will be responsible for developing and implementing machine learning algorithms to enhance the capabilities of robotic systems. Your role involves training models for perception, decision-making, and motion planning, enabling robots to interact intelligently with their environment. You will work closely with robotics engineers and software developers to integrate machine learning solutions into the robotic platform and contribute to the continuous improvement and innovation in the field of robotics.
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• ‍Data Scientist
  As a Data Scientist, your main responsibility will be to analyze and interpret data generated by robotic systems and sensors. You will work with large datasets to derive valuable insights, optimize robot performance, and improve decision-making processes. Your role involves developing machine learning models and algorithms to enable robots to learn from data and adapt to dynamic environments. Additionally, you will collaborate with robotics engineers and software developers to integrate data-driven solutions into the robotic platform and contribute to the advancement of robotics technology through data-driven innovation.
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• Electrical Engineer
  As an Electrical Engineer, your role revolves around designing, developing, and implementing electrical systems and components for robotic applications. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless integration of electrical components into the robotic platform. Responsibilities include designing circuitry, selecting and integrating sensors and actuators, and collaborating on control systems to enable the efficient and precise movement of robots. Additionally, you will be involved in troubleshooting, testing, and continuous improvement to enhance the performance and reliability of robotic systems.
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• Control Systems Engineer
  As a Control Systems Engineer, your primary focus is on designing and implementing control algorithms to enable precise and autonomous movements of robotic systems. You will work with a team of engineers to develop and optimize control strategies for various robotic applications, including navigation, motion planning, and manipulation tasks. Your role involves integrating sensors and actuators, conducting simulations, and performing real-world testing to ensure the effectiveness and safety of control systems. Additionally, you will collaborate with software and hardware engineers to deliver innovative solutions and contribute to the advancement of robotics technology.
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• ‍Computer Vision Engineer
  As a Computer Vision Engineer, your main responsibility is to develop and implement computer vision algorithms and solutions for robotic systems and automation technologies. You will work on extracting and interpreting visual information from cameras and other sensors to enable robots to perceive and understand their environment. Your role involves designing and training machine learning models for object detection, recognition, tracking, and scene understanding. Additionally, you will collaborate with robotics engineers and software developers to integrate computer vision capabilities into the robotic platform, enabling intelligent decision-making and autonomous operations. Your work as a Computer Vision Engineer will contribute to the enhancement and efficiency of robotic systems across various industries.
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• ‍Automation Engineer
  As an Automation Engineer, your role involves designing, developing, and implementing automation solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety in various processes and systems. You will work on integrating software, hardware, and control systems to create automated workflows and procedures. Responsibilities include analyzing existing processes, identifying areas for automation, and designing solutions to streamline operations. Additionally, you will conduct testing, troubleshooting, and optimization to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the automated systems. As an Automation Engineer, you will play a vital role in enhancing productivity and reducing manual intervention in industries such as manufacturing, robotics, and process automation.
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• ‍Perception Engineer
  As a Perception Engineer, your primary responsibility is to develop and implement algorithms and techniques that enable robots and autonomous systems to perceive and understand their environment accurately. You will work with sensor data, such as cameras, Lidar, and other environmental sensors, to extract meaningful information and insights. Responsibilities include designing and optimizing perception algorithms for tasks such as object detection, recognition, localization, and mapping. Your role involves working closely with computer vision engineers, machine learning specialists, and robotics engineers to integrate perception capabilities into the robotic platform. The work of a Perception Engineer is crucial for enabling robots to interact intelligently with their surroundings, making them safer and more efficient in real-world scenarios.

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‍Main hard skills you use on daily basis in your current job

‍Programming Languages
‍Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++ which are commonly used for robotic system development. This skill is crucial for writing test scripts, test automation, and controlling robots through code. I acquired a solid foundation in Python during my university studies, where I learned its fundamentals and applied it to diverse projects. With Python, I can efficiently manipulate data, develop control pipelines, and create powerful test scripts that automate processes and enhance productivity.  

Electronics and Hardware Knowledge
‍Understanding of electronic components, sensors, actuators, and other hardware used in robotics. This knowledge is important for troubleshooting hardware-related issues during testing. Understanding of how to communicate with robotic hardware using standard interfaces like UART, I2C, SPI, or specific robot control interfaces. I acquired these during my bachelors and masters which always had some hardware involved in the projects

Troubleshooting Skills
‍Familiarity with various testing methodologies, including unit testing, integration testing, regression testing, and performance testing, to ensure the robustness and reliability of robotic systems. Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot issues that arise during testing, whether they are related to hardware, software, or communication between components. I acquired these skills when I started testing on big machines for AIM

Machine Learning and AI
Depending on the robotics projects you're involved in, knowledge of machine learning and AI techniques may be beneficial, particularly for testing robots with adaptive or learning capabilities. I learned all these skills while pursuing my masters at NC State

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Soft skills you use on daily basis in your current job

Teamwork and Collaboration
‍Robotics projects are often complex and require the efforts of multiple individuals with diverse skills. The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team is essential. A team-oriented mindset involves actively contributing ideas, sharing knowledge, and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals. This skill ensures that everyone is on the same page, fosters creativity, and maximizes productivity.  

Adaptability and Flexibility
‍The field of robotics is dynamic and rapidly evolving. As a result, projects can encounter unexpected challenges, changes in requirements, or technological advancements. Being adaptable and flexible means being open to change, embracing new approaches, and quickly adjusting to new circumstances. This skill enables employees to stay resilient, maintain high performance in the face of uncertainty, and find innovative solutions.  

Effective Communication
‍Clear and effective communication is vital in a robotics company. Engineers need to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders, and teams must collaborate seamlessly to ensure smooth project execution. Excellent communication skills involve active listening, articulating ideas concisely, and tailoring the message to the audience. It fosters a positive work environment, reduces misunderstandings, and promotes efficient problem-solving.

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Your personal path

Similar to many others, my journey has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. It all began when I was pursuing my master's degree and seeking an internship during the summer break. Despite sending out over 400 applications, I found myself without a single interview lined up. However, a glimmer of hope appeared when I received an interview opportunity from Lenovo, which I eagerly seized. There were couple round of interviews, both being coding and ML questions. The expereince at Lenovo was great like any other top tier companies.  

Similarly, as my graduation date approached in May 2020, the pressure was on as an international student with limited time. I started applying for jobs in the fall of 2019 and sent out over a thousand job applications, but disappointingly, I wasn't able to secure a position. Nevertheless, my efforts and patience paid off and it turned around towards the end of May when I had a fortunate call with an Apple manager who showed keen interest in me. Consequently, I began working for Apple.  

After 18 months, with the job market reopening, I started my job search again. This time, I did manage to secure more interviews, but none of the opportunities resonated with the passion I sought for my next role. Then, a recruiter reached out to me about AIM, and from my very first conversation with the CEO, I knew it was a perfect match. The alignment of our passions was incredible, prompting me to resign from Apple within a week and relocate from Austin to Seattle in just four days.

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