As someone who has been doing robotics professionally for fifteen years.... robots are also mostly code. There is a certain tangibility to it, but unless you're just deploying an off-the-shelf stack like Ardupilot, you're going to end up spending 95% of your project time on it writing code and tweaking configuration files.
If you want a tactile hobby, actually build something— make some shelves for your basement or garage, put up a bike shed, make a deck, redo your kitchen floor, weld together a teardrop camper, dig up a tree stump, whatever.
Or if it can be physical without needing to be back-breaking, do partner dancing or an endurance sport like distance swimming or road cycling.
Yeah, I definitely have tangible and physical hobbies! I think what I might really be missing is a sense of meaning in my work.
In "physical" work there's an inherent satisfaction. You look at the pile of leaves you raked. You see the plate of food you prepared. You see the wall you built. Etc.
Code can be equally satisfying, but I think generally I need to be more in touch with the actual users to feel that satisfaction. In my last few roles I've been way too distant from users. Luckily in my next role I think I'm going to be able to remedy that.
If you want a tactile hobby, actually build something— make some shelves for your basement or garage, put up a bike shed, make a deck, redo your kitchen floor, weld together a teardrop camper, dig up a tree stump, whatever.
Or if it can be physical without needing to be back-breaking, do partner dancing or an endurance sport like distance swimming or road cycling.