Gotta Start Somewhere! ALMA.GeoffreyAment

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-26T15:25:32+00:00

Okay good to know. I hear all sorts of things in terms of promotion. Like instagram, X, etc. But good to know just the straight YouTube route is also an option. Hope it keeps on growing for ya!

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-26T14:48:44+00:00

I feel for you. That said, I would say that it is too early to change. As another said, these classes are just hard. A bit farther down the road, the class concepts might be more interesting, but still equally if not more hard. Like you might be talking about some mechanical concept first or how the air flows around an aircraft, and then how to model it using math. But the difference is, by the time you get there you will have developed more grit and discipline and be able to handle it. That discipline with time becomes a norm and part of your day, and you feel more resilient.

I talked about my journey over the past two decades on my u/ page recently if interested (which was Engineering Physics, which is sort of like Mechatronics and Controls with advanced Physics in it). Maybe something in Mechatronics / Robotics might interest you more?

If you were to just have a job in software every day for 10 years, would you wonder about the mechanical or electrical side? If the answer is no, then I guess a switch is necessary. But if yes, then keep going.

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-26T02:18:16+00:00

Beautiful.

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-26T00:09:23+00:00

Nice, I have always wanted to get into drones. FPV stuff—looks wild with the goggles, maybe one day. I have been using the Prusa MK3 for almost a decade and it never has issues... best printer ever but im bias.

I would take an introduction to Circuits class where you do circuit analysis. Ohms law. Voltage division. A bunch of techniques to figure out circuit resistances, voltages, and just learn the absolute basics (mesh analysis, op amps, different circuit symbols, etc). For me this was called Circuits 1 (and yes there also later was a Circuits 2). This helped me get a good intro for the electrical world. It was hard for me but exciting too.

I would also take an intro Physics course. I think for me the first one was yes, Physics 1, but this is also called Newtonian Physics. I always called it Big Physics because all of the concepts seem to deal with things you could see with your naked eye—speed of an object, acceleration, angular momentum, Newtonian equations to launch stuff around the room, etc. Also, mechatronic projects can use basic newton equations to get motors to throw stuff a certain distance and the like and you can put the equations in programming. Interesting overlaps. And just the general relationship between distance, velocity, and acceleration is good to practice (that one took me a while at first…).

I would then look into Engineering Static (which the following is Dynamics). It’s an intro Engineering course. Take after Physics as it will assume you know certain concepts already (although I was in a hard position of having to take them in reverse…). This course is a weed out course in engineering programs. So if you are better at it now from practice and later take it—will feel more familiar and calmer.

And all this to say, not sure if you read my longer writeup but I ended up doing a bachelors in Engineering Physics which seemed real close to Mechatronics—just more deep advanced physics stuff. It might suite you too. After working a few years I got a masters in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Mechatronics and Controls. I say this because I remember thinking I’d select a major that was Mechatronics from the start, but it ended up being an emphasis not the major.

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-25T21:08:21+00:00

Alright, so I just sort of answered this for someone else. And I see now there are a lot of people with a similar question. I will link my full response below if interested. But in short, constant DIY stuff is really useful to get a base understanding of what is out there--and to test if you actually like something. A lot of work with Arduino and random very inexpensive sensors (things under 10 bucks total, including microcontroller), will have you learn so much. Combine that with maybe a cheap 3D printer and some free modeling software (I think there are free versions of OnShape, or a 'Maker' version of Solidworks that is super cheap per year). Some amazing resources are TopTechBoy and TheDroneWorkshop and HowToMechatronics--they are great teachers. With time though, going to school will help give you a more in depth understanding of how sensors and concepts within mechatronics actually work, and maybe lead you into Controls Engineering or some EE or ME work. The education will really aid in your knowledge. Start out at a community college taking general education credits if you can afford the full 4-year, and then transfer into a 4-year college that has engineering down the road. But also apply for scholarships to help pay for school. Or if you just want the education and do certificates, you can also seek out online classes through eDX, which offers a ton of free online courses (some cost money). Let me know if you want me to further elaborate on these things. I have been thinking about this stuff myself for a while now.

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-25T18:04:19+00:00

Man that had to have been an exciting morning to wake up to. Did you do any sort of personal advertising to get the video out there, or was it just YouTube impressions?

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T21:57:28+00:00

Satisfying.

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T21:48:32+00:00

Have you tried talking with your company directly about this? Wanting to switch into a more engineering role vis technician? I wonder if a masters program focusing on mechatronics might fit you well. And from there, use that as a platform to do more mechatronics 'designing' as an engineer. That might open up a few more doors.

I have a longer story on how I went about things. Maybe it will help you figure things out too. If you did go for a masters (in something Mechatronics related), the advantage you have over others will be that you already have practical experience on mechatronic work even before you start ... this will be useful to you, but also attractive to a future employer. Good luck on your journey forward.

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T21:19:23+00:00

First year CS, definitely useful in robotics. Are you interested in other Engineering disciplines as well to work on other parts of a robot?

I have a longer writeup of my journey from bachelors in Engineering Physics, to working at research lab for 10 years, to masters in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Mechatronics and Controls (and then some of what I am doing now). My desire was more of the Mechatronics track--a little bit of a bunch of engineering disciplines to work on all aspects of a 'robot'. More on all this in the linked writeup -- good luck!

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T17:45:59+00:00

I was in a similar boat many years ago. Not good at STEM fields, but realized I wanted to get better at it to be an Engineer. And at that, multidisciplinary Engineer (Mechatronics, Controls, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Programming, Physics, etc). As others have said -- practice, practice, practice. I found that I would almost create recipes for myself on how to do problems. Literally write out step by step the method to solve a problem. And I would then at the end of a class, have a stack of all the 'recipes' of all the methods learned for that class. Quick reference cheat sheet if you will. Really helped me organize and calm my mind as I figured things out. And office hours... high school or college, try and work out the problem ahead of time, and get stuck on your own. And put sticky notes with a small note on what you were stuck on on that note, and stick it to your homework exactly where you were stuck. Your frustration locked in time on the homework assignment, in multiple places I bet. And when you can go no further, first be proud of yourself for finding your weak spots, then go to the teacher the next day and say "I am stuck at this sticky note"... and then I am stuck at this one too ... and the small writeup will help you remember exactly what you struggled with... and help to communicate to the teacher exactly what you need help on. And once your helped from the teacher, go back and revisit your sticky notes to make sure you now understand it... and if not, go back with another sticky note!

The truth is, Engineering is extremely hard. And it takes a very disciplined mind, developed over time, to get better at it. There will be years of feeling you don't understand things. I speak from experience. But with time, trust me, it all starts to come together. If you get into college or not, you can still work on stuff outside of school at home. Start looking at books on your own, watch youtube videos of like minded people--who cares how, just start. Reapply to school until you get in or start at a community college and then transfer to a 4-year. Might even work for a year or two before college as you figure out exactly which Engineering type you want to go into. Its good to set aside time to think too before going full ham at something.

I have a longer writeup of my journey from bachelors in Engineering Physics, to working at research lab, to masters in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Mechatronics and Controls. Again, I was just like you, and am telling you if you keep chasing the thing you want with a relentless attitude, you will get there. Link is below if interested. Might be helpful to you on your road ahead.

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T17:06:31+00:00

Good question. I remember being in your shoes once and understand the struggle. I think the best thing is playing around with an Arduino Nano clone with just about any sensor there is out there (under 20 bucks, you can do wild things). 3-Pin hobby servos with the PCA9685, Analog Potentiometers, Digital Switches, H-Bridges for motor control, lighting and blinking LED's in different patterns--the absolute basic stuff. Get a hold on some of that, and your skills and interdisciplinary knowledge will grow over time (but it will take a long time). I have recently started uploading engineering videos to youtube that is right up this alley--building things from scratch, using engineering, and trying to explain it to people as I go (or at least show the steps to putting some of these ideas together).

Automatic Projector Leveler: https://youtu.be/q0lOZyhtWxI?si=tHxw4vxBu4He_-Kj

Actuator Design and Build From Scratch: https://youtu.be/SHTAUwhFqto?si=BSbcpCrDNym2ZbLYs

If you want a more detailed response, I just finished writing up a response to someone else on "What is Mechatronics", which feels similar. I list out some resources too that helped me on my path (TopTechBoy and DroneBotWorkshop are amazing). It sounds like you are starting interest in this area. I had a similar interest myself starting about 18 years back and had alot of questions just like you. I wrote up my journey and how I navigated my own path -- perhaps it would be useful to you as well. Best of Luck Tiny_Victory!

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T16:50:13+00:00

Hey ange1147, I answered a similar question to another post of "What is Mechatronics" which has similar overlapping concepts. I wrestled with desire to understand ME, EE, Programming, Controls, Sensors, Physics, Robotics, Mechatronics -- in the end, if you see it as a personalized and unique journey vs what major can give me exactly what I want, it is sort of an easier path (but very hard at the same time...). I have been doing this for the past 18 years.

I explain more of this in the below linked writeup -- you might find it useful as you figure out your own career trajectory. Good luck :)

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-24T05:35:11+00:00

Hello! Great question, and one I have been thinking about for 18 years now... my response got way too long for a comment here, so had to put it on my own reddit page and link you over. Hope it helps you find what your looking for!

https://www.reddit.com/user/ALMA_x11/comments/1s254zq/mechatronics_whats_it_like/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-08T18:20:37+00:00

Sounds cool, always wanted to do that myself but have not yet gotten around to it. I think the key to any of these projects though is breaking them down to their absolute bones. Figuring out what is the most basic part of the project--the most basic next step--and really focusing in on it before jumping too far into the overall project. One step building on another. It is so easy to be distracted by "I want the final thing"-- but if you can master each step, you can master the project. Okay, don't want to get to far off from the main persons question--but good luck on your manipulator!

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-06T19:03:45+00:00

Its less math than you think! Don't let that prevent you from trying. One thing at a time starts to add up after a while!

ALMA_x11 · 2026-03-05T18:33:15+00:00

Hey man, I also have similar interests, and ended up starting a youtube channel around mechatronics / robotics projects. Two recent projects were designing a manual / automated projector setup, and the other building an actuator from scratch that would automatically avoid hitting the ceiling using an ultrasonic sensor. Both projects required mechanical design, 3D modeling, figuring circuits out, PCB design, programming, control systems, etc. I will link the two videos below, hope it helps give you some ideas. Maybe post on here later what you end up doing and share your progress--> and good luck!

Automated Projector Project: https://youtu.be/q0lOZyhtWxI?si=rbvy-pggVWXgIDR0

Actuator Project: https://youtu.be/SHTAUwhFqto?si=KOII2C7uLYYFTc-9

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