Robotics Engineering & Systems for Junior

Length: 2 weeks

Accreditation: Fully WASC Accredited (The Gold Standard in K-12 Education)

Prerequisite: None

DESCRIPTION

Step into the world of Smart Robotics! Junior Engineers will unlock the magic of robotics at this 2-week Robotics and Augmented Reality (AR) camp.

In this expanded adventure, students don't just build a robot—they teach it to "see" and "feel" the world. Starting with Lego-style building blocks, students engage in hands-on engineering to build their own machines. Then, the real magic happens: they will work with robots with Smart Sensors! Students will code their robots to detect obstacles and stop before crashing, just like a real self-driving car. By combining physical building with digital AR magic, this program turns young builders into true inventors.

Along the way, campers build creativity, critical thinking, and persistence as they debug and improve the smart robots they create.

No experience needed—everyone learns at their own pace, with extra challenges for kids who are ready for more.

Experience the Magic of Smart Robots + AR: We combine hands-on construction with intelligent technology.

• Build Real Robots: We use enhanced Lego-style bricks, gears, and motors. It’s not just stacking blocks; it’s engineering moving machines.
• Make It Smart (Sensors): This is where the magic happens. Students add sensors that act like "eyes," allowing the robot to detect walls and obstacles on its own.
• Digital Twin & Teleportation: Build a robot in real life and its digital twin in AR. While the real robot explores the dangerous places, you use AR to "teleport" to its location. You will see yourself interacting with the robot in the AR world to solve problems, keeping you safe while the robot handles the hard work remotely!

What You Will Do:

• Week 1: The Builder: Learn how gears and motors work. You will build the body of your robot and use block coding to make it drive, turn, and race.
• Week 2: The Inventor: Work with the robot with Smart Sensors. Students work with a robot powered by an ESP32 chip (industry standard). The focus is on Sensors—coding the robot to detect walls, follow lines, and avoid obstacles automatically. You will write code that tells your robot to "watch out" for walls and navigate mazes without crashing!
• Visualize with AR: Create a digital world for your robot and see yourself interacting with it.
• Play & Learn: Enjoy a healthy balance of learning with fun indoor/outdoor camp activities.
• Note: The smart robot hardware is provided for camp use, not to take home.

Students will learn the following:

• Computer, keyboard, mouse, and Internet skills (Junior Level)
• Introductory to Intermediate Robotics Engineering (Junior Level)
• Introductory to Intermediate Robotics Coding with Blockly (Junior Level)
• Introductory to Intermediate Robotics Sensors and Sensor Control Programming (Junior Level)
• Introductory to Intermediate Holographic AR concepts, logic, and coding (Junior Level)
• Interactive storytelling and visual communication (Junior Level)
• UI/UX (user interface/user experience) design (Junior Level)
• Debugging and problem-solving techniques (Junior Level)
• Integration of robotics design with AR for interactive projects (Junior Level)

⚠️ Essential Safety & Readiness Guide (Please Read) To ensure a safe and happy camp for our K-2 participants, please ensure your child is ready for the following:

• Small Parts Safety: We use small robotics components. Students must have the motor control to handle small parts without putting them in their mouths. This is strictly enforced to prevent choking hazards.
• Gentle Hands: Robotics parts are fragile and expensive. Students must be able to handle equipment gently; throwing or mistreating equipment is not permitted.
• Listening Skills: Students must be able to follow teacher instructions to prevent damage to the equipment and ensure class safety.