The Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC) introduces students to the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. This is a 2-week, full-day summer program for rising 9th through 12th-grade high school students. Students do not need experience in robotics to participate in SPARC, but should be academically strong students with an interest in robotics and the ability to take initiative. During the program, students will learn about applications for microcontrollers, interface sensors, and actuators through hands-on manipulation of the components provided in their robotics kit.
SPARC is robotics at a high level: combining concepts and practices from computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Learn about basic electrical components, circuits, and circuit configurations; microcontroller anatomy, features, and programming; coding key constructs like variables, conditionals, loops, data representations; all while building interactive, robotic devices. The program introduces advanced technical skills like how to interface various electrical and electronic components with the microcontroller and how to perform serial and parallel communication. Other challenging content includes learning to add sensors and actuators, how to acquire measurements from sensors, and how to command the actuators under program control.
Location(s)
- New York University, New York, New York
Schedule
- Session 1: June 16th - June 27th, 2025
- Session 2: July 7th - July 18th, 2025
- Session 3: July 28th - August 8th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- $3,300 Tuition Fee
- $616 Optional Housing Fee
- $192 Mandatory Meal plan with housing
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students who are age 14 and older the day program begins (minimum 15 years old for housing)
Deadline
- April 21st, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed online application