LAU Engineering Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Summer School

Schedule

Week 1: Monday June 29 to Friday July 3

Day 1 (Monday, June 29)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Welcome to Engineering (IEEE TryEngineering) + Robotics Kickoff (LEGO SPIKE Prime: build & design basics)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Math for Robotics I: measurement, gears, ratios + hands-on build clinic
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Programming Foundations: sequences, logic, teamwork challenge (first robot missions)
Day 2 (Tuesday, June 30)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Python Coding I: variables, operations, printing (robot-themed problems)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
LEGO SPIKE Programming: loops + motion (distance/speed/time missions)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Motors & movement tuning: accuracy, testing, mini-challenge runs
Day 3 (Wednesday, July 1)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Math for Robotics II: graphs, averages, timing + data collection activity
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Python Coding II: conditionals (if/else) + debugging habits
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sensors in action: obstacle avoidance / line sensing (hands-on missions)
Day 4 (Thursday, July 2)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 am Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Intro to AI: patterns, “training” vs “rules” (kid-friendly AI activities)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. IEEE TryEngineering Design Challenge: design → prototype → test → improve
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Applied AI thinking in robotics: smarter decisions (strategy + logic challenges)
Day 5 (Friday, July 3)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Week 1 Team Challenge: build + code mission runs (LEGO SPIKE Prime)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Python Coding Challenge: loops + conditionals (robot puzzles)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Demo & Reflection: team presentations + “What’s new next week” (VEX preview)

Week 2: Monday July 6 to Friday July 10

Day 6 (Monday, July 6)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. VEX Robotics Kickoff: parts, safety, build basics (drivetrain + structure)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. VEXcode Intro (Blocks + Python): movement, turns, control basics
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Math for VEX: gear ratios, torque vs speed + driving practice
Day 7 (Tuesday, July 7)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
VEX Programming: loops + conditionals (driver control + automation basics)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sensors & autonomy (middle-school level): distance/line/encoder missions
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Skills Challenges: timed runs + improvement cycles (test, fix, repeat)
Day 8 (Wednesday, July 8)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Python Coding III: functions + clean code (robot mission “toolkit”)
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AI for strategy: scoring, planning, and smart choices (data-based decisions)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Autonomous routines: plan → test → tune (engineering notebook tips)
Day 9 (Thursday, July 9)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 am Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. VEX Competition Training: rules, field overview, roles, sportsmanship
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Build & tune for reliability: precision, consistency, quick fixes
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Practice matches + final preparation (scrimmage format)
Day 10 (Friday, July 10)  
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Arrival and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. VEX Mini-Competition (skills + head-to-head missions)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Final demos + pit interviews (what we built/learned)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Final matches + showcase
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Award Ceremony + IEEE Certificates