Re: is it really hard to become an expert engineer in robotics?

Hello Nathan,
In answer to your question “Is it really hard to become an expert 
engineer in robotics?”:

The quick answer is “Yes!”   Robotics is a field in engineering that 
requires skills from multiple areas.  Many of the courses that are 
required are challenging, but also very rewarding.  A robotics engineer 
needs to have a good working knowledge of mechanics, dynamics, materials 
and electronics to name a few areas.  All of these areas would be covered 
in the study to become a mechanical engineer.  
The areas of study that I listed above would help you to understand such 
things as how strong components would need to be, how they would move or 
interact with each other, how much power or energy would be needed to 
operate the assembly, and a number of other skills.  Robotics is a 
wonderful field for an engineer because it lets you use all of these 
skills in a practical and fascinating way!
I assume from your question to Mad Science that you are not yet in high 
school.  When you get there, I encourage you to take all of the math 
classes that you can.  The math classes will continue well into college 
in the study of mechanical engineering.  Strong math skills will make 
future engineering classes easier.  The most important class to take in 
high school is physics.  The year of high school physics will cover many 
of the disciplines I mentioned above at an understandable level of 
complexity.  The physics class can be the test to help you decide if you 
truly want to pursue a career as a robotics engineer!  
Here are the test questions to answer after you take the class:
1.	Did you enjoy the class?
2.	Did you understand and gain a good “feel” for most of the topics 
that were taught?
3.	Did you have fun?
4.	Are you inspired to want to learn more about each subject?
If you can answer “yes” to these questions then the field of robotics 
just might be for you!
Study hard, and I wish you great success!
Jay Shapiro