# Ep. 14: Zero to H.I.R.O.: The Path to Becoming a Full-Stack Mechatronics Engineer

- Show: [The Robo Success Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast)
- Published: 2026-08-18
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer
- Listen: https://podcast.ausha.co/the-robo-success-podcast/ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer

## Summary

Joseph Casebeer, Founder and CEO of Takamori Robot, discusses his educational robotics kit, Hero, which uses a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller to teach embedded systems and hardware fundamentals. He explains the transition from graphical programming to raw code, emphasizing that deep technical knowledge is essential for debugging and optimizing in an AI-driven industry. Casebeer also highlights a partnership with Real Engineers, a hiring platform that evaluates candidates based on project portfolios rather than resumes, arguing that hands-on experience with hardware is critical for career success.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [2:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=156) Hero Robotics Kit and Raspberry Pi Pico
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=295) Arduino IDE and Open Source Libraries
- [9:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=541) Critique of Graphical Programming in Education
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=748) The Role of Microcontrollers in an AI World
- [15:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=914) Portfolio Building and Real Engineers Partnership
- [22:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=1331) Learning from Hardware Failures and 'Magic Smoke'
- [24:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer#t=1488) Hero Name Origin and Kickstarter Launch

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Takamori Robot (company)
- Hero (product)
- Raspberry Pi Pico (chip)
- Arduino (company)
- Real Engineers (company)
- Kickstarter (other)
- GitHub (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [264: Do It for the Herd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-10-18-264-do-it-for-the-herd) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep. 4 |The Future Is Coding: Experts from iRobot and STMicroelectronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2020-06-25-ep-4-the-future-is-coding-experts-from-irobot-and-stmicroelectronics) (Moore's Lobby)
- [177: Boba Fett Fell Down](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-11-22-177-boba-fett-fell-down) (Embedded.fm)
- [351: Dextral or Sinistral](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-13-351-dextral-or-sinistral) (Embedded.fm)
- [144: Asking For Clippy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-03-23-144-asking-for-clippy) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robo Success Podcast.