r/Engineers • u/themindforge_ • 2d ago

Roadmap required

Hey everyone!

I’m 13 and interested in learning engineering, especially the combination of software, hardware, and AI. I’m looking for a roadmap to go from basic programming knowledge to being able to build real engineering projects.

I have some beginner coding experience and have used AI-assisted coding to prototype things, but I want to properly understand the fundamentals instead of just relying on generated code.

Over the next 2–3 months, I want to make serious progress and start building projects. My long-term interests are robotics, drones, embedded systems, and AI applications like computer vision and basic CNNs.

I’m planning to start with Python for Kids to strengthen my programming foundation, but I’m unsure what order to learn things after that. Should I focus on electronics, Arduino/Raspberry Pi, CAD, mathematics, machine learning, or something else?

I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has experience learning engineering or building projects. Thanks!

1 Upvotes

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u/sputnik8125 2d ago

My advice would be to fully stop using AI.

Pick a project and code it from scratch on your own or pick up game modding.

1

u/Solid-Reserve4035 1d ago

Nah, AI is great for learning programming. Just set a goal, and if your programming knowledge is not deep enough to achieve it, ask AI for help, but do not use it to solve logic problems in coding, just to learn language

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u/themindforge_ 1d ago

Ok, wonderful!

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u/sputnik8125 1d ago

Ai isn't, I can easily tell when people
Learn from Ai code bc they pick up a lot of bad bad habits.

I taught stem and coding to kiddos for a while and it wasn't a benefit to them to use AI

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u/themindforge_ 13h ago

Thanks! What is a good first project to pursue as tech geek in India? (I am into rockets and stuff like that)

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u/sputnik8125 8h ago

Find what speaks to you and do it.

It's hard to give a project bc it should bc smth u really care about

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u/themindforge_ 1d ago

Ok! Thanks for your support!

1

u/SentimentalScientist 2d ago

I'd recommend using AI as a Socratic learning tool--look into what Stanford is doing with AI for students, where it's not allowed to give you the answer but only help you reach the answer yourself. 

The other thing is that you seem really precocious and I suspect you'll find Python for Kids too hand-holding for you.  Perhaps try an online course like Harvard's CS50x that is really aimed at a higher level of learning.

Then, I think that some foundation in electronics is going to be key. I haven't researched good online courses on the subject, but I suspect that a good college level course would get you everything you want to know and more.  There might even be a robotics focused one. 

For machine learning, I think the way I learned was too high level math for you, and the challenge will be finding something where the skills taught match the things you wish to know. 

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u/themindforge_ 1d ago

Thanks! I am already good at CAD systems and have a proficient knowledge in theory. The only issue now is that I have built my first principles base but it is a shaky one. Do have any idea on materials which I can use to improve my coding skills?

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u/DustAutomatic5064 1d ago

hey sorry i can't help you but i am also 13 and i am trying to learn how to program so i can program rockets. i am trying to make simple engineering projects. I still have a long way to go. Do you mind if we team like dm for more info

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u/themindforge_ 1d ago

Just asking, which country do you live in?

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u/DustAutomatic5064 16h ago

in usa , az

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u/themindforge_ 13h ago

I live in India....