[ChuckMcM]

Exactly this, it is a difficult problem but if the goal is learning then it is one which will give you a number of challenges that will teach you a lot.

Start with any part of the problem and break it up into its component challenges. Start knocking off things one by one. Also start reading all the current papers on topic (a membership in a university library will help with this).

Since we take high school students and turn them into engineers with 4 years of training, figure that two and a half to four years (depending on how much time you will spend on core skills like upgrading your maths understanding) of reading, implementing, and improving.