Students build with and keep a professional robotics kit, including an AI robot car and an autonomous drone, and write real Python code for practical engineering projects.
The Research Ignited - AI Robotics & Autonomous Drone Lab is a live, hands-on online program where high school and middle school students learn to design, build, and program AI-powered robots and autonomous drones. Students use a professional robotics kit (SunFounder PiCar-X AI robot car with Raspberry Pi, a CoDrone EDU, and sensors) which they purchase separately and keep after the course. The curriculum focuses on real engineering, with students writing Python code to bring machines to life, rather than using drag-and-drop blocks. Projects include programming an autonomous obstacle avoider, a smart vision sorting bot using computer vision (OpenCV), and an AI-inspired drone challenge with autonomous flight logic. The program emphasizes developing a debugging mindset, teaching students to diagnose and fix issues with hardware and code. It's beginner-friendly, starting from basics while offering advanced extensions for experienced coders.
A typical day involves live, small-group online sessions with expert instructors, focusing on project-based learning, writing Python code, wiring sensors, and debugging real hardware to build and program robots and autonomous drones.
This program is ideal for middle and high school students interested in a hands-on, project-based approach to learning robotics, AI, and drone programming with real hardware and Python.
Virtual Camp
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