Robotics for TEENS: Explore the World of Physical Computing with MicroBlocks

We live in a digital world, surrounded by digital gadgets, automation, Internet, social media. Artificial intelligence started to transform our everyday life in unforeseen ways.

Join us in discovering the nuances of the digital world, how things are integrated and automated, and how we can use the tools to exert control over our environment. Dive into the world of programming and find out how you can be effective in managing these resources.

What You’ll Learn:

• Get familiar with the micro:bit microcontroller, PicoBricks STEM Kit, and CuteBot
• Learn basics of smart home automation
• Work with temperature, light, humidity, motion, gesture, and proximity sensors to detect conditions and control your environment
• Design and display your own light patterns, program LEDs in different colors
• Use a small OLED screen to display text and graphics, and do animation
• Use Radio signals to communicate with your classmates and exchange messages
• Graph environmental sensor data, computer events, and sounds
• Use hand gestures to issue commands: turn on/off lights, devices, and appliances
• Learn basics of Robotics – 3Cs: communication, command, and control; while having fun with CuteBot Pro, the smart car
• Learn to control motors, process information from the car’s telemetry, and program the car’s actions accordingly
• Make your car follow lines, sense obstacles, track objects, remote control from your Android phone, race your opponents, and much more.

Who Should Attend:

• Students 16 years of age and up can be unaccompanied; ages 12-15 must have a guardian also enrolled in the class.  Minors must have parental permission and a signed waiver (ask us).
• Parents wanting to learn together with their kids
• Makers and DIY enthusiasts
• Students interested in Beginning electronics and programming

Prerequisites:

• Basic skills working with PC or Laptop, navigating using a browser.
• Having an Android phone is helpful.
• No programming skills are required – you’ll learn what you need in the class.
• If you have a PC laptop with Bluetooth, bring it along.

About the Instructor:

Paul is a technical writer and trainer with many years of experience presenting complex topics in fun, simple terms. As an Electrical Engineer, he has extensive experience with a wide variety of electronic equipment. His specialties include robotics, the internet of things (IoT), home automation, DIY websites, audio/music, Raspberry PI computing, sensors, and much more. If you’ve ever wanted a peek “under the hood” of how robots work or wanted to quickly get over the hurdle of adding electronics to your own project, this is the course for you.