What is the best choice for learning AI/Robotics?

Let's Make Robots Beginners
1

Hi everyone,
I am VERY new to all of this, but I’ve been reading around for a month or so, and plan on starting robotics.
My starting point will be to gift a robot to my girlfriend for Christmas, and get into it together. I know she’s interested, but as a neurology psychologist, she’s more into the AI part of it, I’m more on the side of robotics.

To get started slowly, I though about buying Cozmo, I know it’s not close to start building an AI or anything, but i though it would be a “cute” and fun way to get the temperature, and get our hands into real coding (Python). If it clicks, we’d go into more serious stuff.

I looked at Dash&Dot but looked too much like a kid game (even more than Cozmo is what i mean), ReRo is too expensive for “getting the temperature”, Mindstorm look like more robotics/building oriented, Ringo looked like something that would be interesting but maybe too hardcore for coding at first, compared to Cozmo that has apparently good guides and begginer friendly SDK.

So anyway, here I am, a bit (lot) lost, trying to figure out what’s the best choice for : easy and fun start, without too much building and coding, but good potential for more serious stuff.

Really hope you help me make my choice.
Thanks for reading me, and looking forward to exchange here, and get into the robotics adventure :slight_smile:

D.

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Hi Dash,

First of all, congratulations on starting the learning process - you won’t regret the time investment!

You have to learn to walk before you can run, as they say, so I would suggest that you start really, really, really simple. I’ve got similar long-term ambitions for my ROVer project (youtube links below, if you’re interested), but I’ve come to understand how many prerequisite steps there are before you get to the really “cool” stuff.

After months, I’m only just getting to the “Autonomous” functionality of my ROVer… and there’s still soooo much to do :stuck_out_tongue: Are you familiar with Arduino or similar boards/IDEs?

Cheers,

Nick.