Prescreening Questions to Ask Advanced Robotics Engineer

Can you describe your experience with robotic operating systems (ROS, ROS2, etc.)?

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Robotic Operating Systems are the backbone of many robotic applications. You want to get a sense of how familiar they are with ROS or ROS2. Have they built custom packages or nodes? Are they comfortable with the ROS ecosystem, and can they handle the quirks of ROS2?

What types of sensors have you integrated into robotic systems?

Sensors are the eyes and ears of a robot. Asking about their experience with different sensors, like LIDAR, ultrasound, IMUs, or cameras, gives you an insight into their versatility. Have they handled multiple sensors simultaneously, and do they understand how to fuse data from different sources?

Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot a malfunctioning robot. What steps did you take?

Not every day is smooth sailing in robotics. Emergencies crop up, and how they handle these situations speaks volumes about their problem-solving capabilities. Ask them to walk you through a specific incident, the troubleshooting methodology they used, and the final solution they implemented.

How do you approach designing algorithms for robotic perception?

This is where brains meet brawn. Perception algorithms are crucial for a robot to understand its environment. What strategies do they use for object detection, obstacle avoidance, or path planning? Are they familiar with advanced techniques like neural networks or traditional approaches like Kalman filters?

Explain your experience with machine learning or AI in the context of robotics.

Robots are becoming increasingly intelligent, thanks to AI and machine learning. How have they incorporated these technologies? Have they trained custom models or utilized pre-trained ones? Their experience with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch could be a game-changer.

Can you discuss your experience with automation and control systems in robotics?

Automation and control are at the heart of making a robot act autonomously. Ask them about their familiarity with control theory, PID controllers, and perhaps even advanced topics like Model Predictive Control (MPC). How have they implemented these in their past projects?

What programming languages are you proficient in for robotics applications?

Python or C++ are often the go-to languages in this field. But do they also know about others like Java, MATLAB, or even some niche domain-specific languages? Proficiency in multiple languages can be a testament to their coding versatility and problem-solving ability.

Describe a project where you worked with autonomous navigation systems.

Autonomous navigation is one of the most challenging yet exciting aspects of robotics. Dive into their hands-on experience with navigation systems. Did they implement SLAM algorithms? Were they involved in the intricate details of path planning and obstacle avoidance?

How do you ensure the safety and reliability of your robotic systems?

No one wants a rogue robot. Safety and reliability are paramount. What measures do they put in place? Are they familiar with safety standards and regulatory guidelines? How do they test for robustness, and what redundancy mechanisms do they build?

What are your experiences with collaborative robots and human-robot interaction?

Collaborative robots, or Cobots, are designed to work alongside humans. How do they tackle the nuances of human-robot interaction? Have they designed systems that can understand human intentions and act accordingly? What safety measures do they incorporate?

How have you integrated computer vision into a robotic system?

Computer vision is a game-changer in robotics. Inquire about their experience with image processing libraries like OpenCV or machine vision systems. Have they worked on perception tasks like facial recognition, object tracking, or scene understanding?

What methods do you use for testing and validating robotic algorithms?

Validation is vital to ensure that algorithms perform as expected. How do they test and validate their robotic software? Do they use simulation environments before real-world deployment? What metrics do they rely on to gauge performance?

Can you discuss a time when you optimized the performance of a robotic system?

Efficiency can make a significant difference in the performance of a robot. Have they optimized algorithms for speed or power consumption? What techniques did they use? This question can highlight their knack for enhancing system performance.

What experience do you have with robotic simulation tools such as Gazebo or V-REP?

Simulation tools are essential for testing hypotheses and algorithms in a controlled environment. Do they have hands-on experience with tools like Gazebo, V-REP, or Webots? How have these tools aided their projects?

Describe your familiarity with hardware platforms used in robotics.

Besides software, hardware knowledge is crucial. Are they familiar with popular platforms like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or even more specialized ones like NVIDIA Jetson? How have they interfaced these with their robotic systems?

Explain your approach to multi-robot coordination and communication.

Getting multiple robots to work together is no small feat. What strategies do they use for coordination and communication among robots? Are they familiar with frameworks like ROS's multi-master system or custom communication protocols?

What are the biggest challenges you've faced in a robotics project and how did you overcome them?

Everyone faces hurdles. The real question is how they overcome them. Ask about their biggest challenges. How did they tackle them, and what lessons did they learn from these experiences? This can be illuminating.

How do you stay updated with the latest advancements and technologies in robotics?

The world of robotics is ever-evolving. How do they stay on top of the latest trends and technologies? Do they follow research papers, attend conferences, or participate in online forums? This shows their commitment to continual learning.

Describe your experience with robotic manipulators and end effectors.

Manipulators and end effectors are used for precise tasks like picking and placing objects. What’s their experience with these? Have they worked on custom grippers or used off-the-shelf ones? How do they ensure precision and accuracy?

Can you detail a project where you used SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)?

SLAM is a cornerstone for autonomous navigation. Have they implemented SLAM algorithms? What sensors did they use, and what challenges did they face? This will help you understand their hands-on experience with one of the most crucial aspects of robotics.