RoboLink: Build and Drive Your Smartphone-Controlled Robot

Description du cours

Have you ever wondered how engineers bring machines to life? In this five-day hands-on course, students will dive into the exciting world of robotics and embedded systems by building their own smartphone-controlled robot car. Guided by Carleton engineering mentors, participants will explore how electricity powers circuits, how microcontrollers think in 1s and 0s, and how simple code turns ideas into motion. Each day combines short, interactive lessons with creative lab sessions where students design, wire, and program their own systems. The week culminates in a capstone project—assembling and testing a robot car that can be driven using a custom Android app. No prior programming or electronics experience is required; curiosity and creativity are all you need.

Learning Objectives
1-Understand basic electrical concepts—voltage, current, and resistance—and apply that knowledge though using breadboards, sensors, and motors to build and test electronic systems.
2-Demonstrate how microcontrollers interpret digital signals (1s and 0s) to make decisions.
3-Write and upload simple Arduino programs to control hardware components.
4-Connect a robot car to an Android app for wireless driving and testing.

Course Structure
Each day blends mini-lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on lab activities that gradually build toward the final robotic car.
Day 1 – Electricity in Action
Discover how electric current works. Build your first circuits to power LEDs and motors while learning how to measure voltage and resistance.
Day 2 – From Circuits to Control
Learn how microcontrollers “read” input signals and send commands. Test how sensors and switches translate real-world actions into robot responses.
Day 3 – Programming the Robot’s Brain
Get introduced to the Arduino environment. Write simple programs to blink lights, spin motors, and react to sensor input.
Day 4 – Going Wireless
Explore how Bluetooth connects your robot to the world. Pair your robot with an Android phone and learn how the app communicates with your hardware.
Day 5 – Build, Drive, and Showcase
Assemble your complete robotic car, upload your final program, and drive it using your phone! Teams will share demonstrations and discuss what they learned.

Pedagogical Approach
The course emphasizes experiential, discovery-based learning:
1-Hands-On Exploration: Every concept is reinforced through real-world experimentation.
Progressive Design: Each day’s activity builds toward the capstone robot.
2-Inclusivity: No prior experience needed; all skill levels supported with guided help.
3-Collaboration: Students work in teams, mirroring how engineers solve problems together.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
1-Build and control a working smartphone-driven robotic car.
2-Gain confidence in basic electronics, coding, and problem-solving.
3-Develop teamwork and communication skills essential for future STEM studies.