Arduino Robotics: Build an Obstacle-Avoiding Robot

This 24-class, hands-on Arduino robotics course guides learners through building and programming real hardware. Students work directly with circuit wiring, sensors, servos, motors, and a robot chassis, writing Arduino C/C++ code to control devices and debug systems in every session. The course begins with fundamentals—electronics basics, LEDs, analog inputs and simple displays—and moves through sensor projects (temperature, sound, soil moisture, PIR motion) and actuator labs (servo and DC motor control). Learners build interactive projects such as alarms, indicator systems, and a reaction game to practice logic, timing, and state control. The final phase centers on assembling a two-wheel rover, adding ultrasonic distance sensing, and implementing decision-making logic to complete an autonomous obstacle-avoiding robot. Math concepts (ranges, ratios, angles, proportional reasoning) and science ideas (electricity, sound, light, motion, friction, distance measurement) are applied throughout. Classes emphasize iterative testing, debugging, and problem solving so students learn engineering habits of mind as they improve their designs. Recommended for ages 8–12 (grades 4–6). This is a physical hardware course; learners must have the required components on hand to complete builds.