Gain a comprehensive understanding of robotics principles, including mechanics, electronics, computer vision, programming, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Develop innovative skills in designing and building robotic systems, with a focus on mechatronics hardware and AI software integration.

Acquire proficiency in embedded programming for robot control, object recognition, and autonomous navigation.

Foster creative thinking and problem-solving abilities through hands-on projects and real- world engineering applications and challenges.

Cultivate leadership, teamwork, and communication skills via collaborative capstone projects.

The summer camp aims to provide talented high-school students with hands-on experience and knowledge in the field of AI-empowered robotics. Participants will engage in intensive sessions to design, construct, and program smart robots. They will explore cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and robotics, learning how these disciplines intersect to create intelligent and autonomous robotic systems. The program culminates in competitive demonstrations, during which students will showcase their robots in groups, competing against each other to solve themed robotics challenges.

Pre-requisite: Rising 9th-12th graders with excellent academic standing. Knowledge of AutoCAD, C, or Python programming is advantageous but not required.

Expected Outcomes

  • Empower students with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and creativity to explore the exciting world of robotics and AI.
  • Prepare students to participate in university research and triumph in STEM competitions, such as IEEE Micro-mouse Competition, Regeneron ISEF and Regeneron Science Talent Search.
  • Help students stand out in college admissions process by showcasing their academic abilities, practical skills, leadership qualities, and passions in STEM fields.

Flexible learning modules:

Week 1 (7/72025~7/11/2025): Robotics Basics — electric circuits, Raspberry-Pi single board computer, python programming, sensors, motor control, autonomous navigation;

Week 2 (7/14/2025~7/18/2025): Advanced Topics — computer vision, object recognition, introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Arduino IDE and C++ programming, micro-mouse searching algorithms.

Week 3: (7/21/2025~7/25/2025): Capstone Project — Students design, build and test autonomous robots and get ready to participate in IEEE micro-mouse competition at MIT in Oct. 2025:

Course Schedule: Monday ~ Thursday: In-person lectures and hands-on lab sessions at the City College of New York.
Fridays: field trips to university research labs or online learning sessions of guest seminars to expose students to state-of-the-art research and emerging technologies.

W1Interactive Lecture TopicsHands-on Lab Sessions
MCourse Introduction, Basic Electronic CircuitsElectronics Bootcamp
TRaspberry-Pi, Python ProgrammingTest GPIO, A/D
WRobot Sensing and Sensors Sensor Evaluation
TMotors and Robot Locomotion PWM and Motor Control
FBuild Robot with Raspberry-Pi PicoRobot Navigation Experiments
W2Interactive Lecture TopicsHands-on Lab Sessions
MComputer Vision, Object RecognitionCamera Evaluation & Programming
TIntroduction to AI Experiments
WArduino IDE and C++ Programming
TMicro-Mouse Searching AlgorithmsProgramming & Testing
FField Trip to Collaborative Robotics and Smart Systems Lab at Montclair State UniversityOffice Hours/Parents Feedback
W3Interactive Lecture TopicsHands-on Lab Sessions
MBuild Your Own Micro-Mouse Robot,Brain Storming Mechanical Design/Components Selection
TCircuit DesignSensor Evaluation/Testing
WBuild Mobile RobotsProgramming/Debugging
TTest Mobile RobotsTesting and Debugging
FAssessment and Feedback Day