Build a Robot: Introduction to Robotics

Here’s an outline of what we’ll cover each day as we go through the process of building a robot. Each day builds on the previous day’s learning and there’ll be plenty of support from our teaching team as you progress through the week.  

Please note: teaching in the robotics lab will finish at 5pm each day, but you are welcome to stay in the break-out room next door until 9.30pm to continue working on what you’ve learned if you wish. 

Day 1 - Microcontroller Coding 

After a quick introduction to the course and a discussion about ideas, we’ll get straight into the details on our first day by teaching you to write C++ code to deploy to microcontrollers such as Arduino boards. This will lay the foundation for how the brain of your robot will process incoming data and decide its next motions.  

Day 2 - Electronics 

Functioning electronic circuits are vital to any robot system. On day 2, you’ll be exploring electronics principles and we’ll be calculating and measuring variables such as voltage and current. 

Day 3 - CAD & 3D Printing 

On our third day, you’ll be exploring computer aided design (CAD) and 3D printing to custom-produce mechanical components for your robot. These are the parts that will hold everything together and give structure to your design. This is also a great place to give your robot some personality by making the aesthetics your own. 

Day 4 - Maze Solving Strategies 

We’d like our robots to be able to solve a maze – and to do so, we must program them with advanced algorithms capable of making the best decision in all combinations of input conditions. Today we’ll be exploring various examples from notable robots and implementing them in our own. 

Day 5 - Support and Testing 

As the week draws to a close you’ll be supported by our team to put all the final touches to your robots while testing them in the maze. In the afternoon everyone will trial their robots in the maze in an informal competition to see who can set the best time. We’ll end with a celebration of everyone’s achievements. 

​​Expect a fun, intensive, and challenging week with hands-on activities each day. There will be taught content each day with supported time to develop your ideas, and although the teaching finishes at 5pm each day there’ll be evening access to the breakout space next door for you to continue programming your robot if you wish. 

​Arrival each day: From 8.45am 

​Teaching starts: 9am 

​Teaching in robotics lab ends: 5pm 

​Break-out space open until: 9.30pm Monday - Thursday 

​​All equipment and materials you will need are provided. You might want to bring a reusable water bottle with you. 

• ​​All materials and equipment you’ll need. 
• ​Lunch each day, all diets catered for. 
• ​Tea/coffee each day.​ 

​​Lunch and refreshments are included each day, with all diets catered for. 

​​This course is taught in our Robotics Lab on our Penryn campus.  

​There is plenty of parking available on our Penryn campus and you can also reach us via a range of public transport options. You can find out more, here.  

​For campus maps and information on visiting us, please visit our How to find us page.​ 

​​​​A reasonable level of digital competency and confidence, either in electronics or programming.​  No prior experience of robotics is required.​ 

​​Accommodation is not included in this course cost but is available to book separately on our Penryn campus. If you would like to book accommodation, please see our accommodation for short course students page for a range of options. ​ ​