10 Robotics Research Topics for High School Students

As a high school student interested in robotics, you may be looking for ways to apply what you’ve learned and further enhance your skills. If that’s the case, then consider working on an independent research project! 

By working on a personal project, you’ll get hands-on experience in robotics, learn the intricacies of engineering and programming, and contribute to meaningful advancements in the field. Such a project not only fuels your curiosity but also enhances your college applications, showcasing your passion for and commitment to a fascinating area of technology.

We understand that starting a project can be the trickiest part; that’s why we’re here to help! In this blog, we’ve put together a list of robotics research topics for high school students that can serve as inspiration for your potential project. These topics span across fields like artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, and more, giving you the chance to find the perfect fit for your interests.

Research Area #1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Robotics

With AI powering most innovations in robotics today, studying AI techniques for robotics can lead to impactful projects. This area includes advancements like voice recognition, emotion detection, and vision systems—foundational technologies in interactive robotics.

1. Develop a voice-controlled robot assistant: Create a robot that responds to voice commands, integrating voice recognition to perform tasks like navigation or item retrieval.

2. Explore emotion recognition in social robots: Train a robot to recognize human emotions based on facial cues, a technology helpful in healthcare and therapy.

3. Design a vision system for obstacle detection: Implement a vision algorithm to help robots “see” and detect obstacles, improving safety and navigation in unknown environments.

4. Build a natural language processing (NLP) robot: Enable your robot to understand and respond to spoken language, creating a conversational companion.

5. Implement an adaptive learning algorithm: Equip your robot with AI that learns from its surroundings, adapting behavior based on past interactions.

Research Area #2: Mechanical Engineering in Robotics

Mechanical engineering focuses on the design and physical structure of robots. This area includes robotics exoskeletons, robotic arms, and energy-efficient joints—key components in creating functional robots for a variety of uses.

1. Prototype a robotic arm for repetitive tasks: Build a robotic arm that can mimic human actions, which will be useful for automated tasks in manufacturing or healthcare.

2. Design a soft robot for delicate handling: Create a soft-bodied robot that can handle fragile items—ideal for use in medical settings or sorting recyclable materials.

3. Create an exoskeleton to assist mobility: Design a wearable robotic exoskeleton that can help people with limited mobility walk or perform physical activities.

4. Experiment with self-balancing mechanisms: Develop a small robot with balancing capabilities—similar to a Segway, which can maintain stability while moving.

5. Optimize energy-efficient robotic joints: Focus on creating joints that consume less power, extending battery life and usability of mobile robots.

Research Area #3: Sensors and Automation

Robots rely on sensors to understand their surroundings. Research in this area might include proximity sensors, temperature sensing, and force feedback—technologies that are critical for automated tasks.

1. Test proximity sensors for collision prevention: Experiment with sensors like ultrasonic or infrared to help robots avoid obstacles.

2. Create a temperature-sensitive robot: Build a robot that can monitor temperature and provide aid in environments like firefighting or environmental monitoring.

3. Design a force-sensitive gripper: Equip a robotic gripper with sensors that measure force, allowing it to handle objects with care.

4. Develop a mapping robot using environmental sensors: Implement sensors that will allow a robot to map its surroundings. This is ideal for rescue missions or exploration.

5. Build a motion-sensing navigation robot: Use motion sensors to detect movement and help robots navigate busy areas.

Research Area #4: Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

Human-robot interaction is vital in making robots usable in everyday life. Topics like social cues, therapy robots, and household assistants are part of this research field.

1. Explore social cue recognition: Develop a robot that can interpret gestures or tone of voice. This feature can prove useful for interactive customer service robots.

2. Design an educational robot for classrooms: Create a robot that engages students through interactive learning activities, combining education with robotics.

3. Build a robotic therapy companion: Program a robot to provide companionship and support for elderly individuals, promoting social interaction.

4. Develop a remote-controlled robot for virtual events: Create a robot that can be a stand-in for people attending events remotely.

5. Build a robot for home assistance: Design a robot that can complete repetitive household tasks like organizing or cleaning.

Research Area #5: Machine Learning in Robotics

Machine learning enables robots to improve through experience. Projects in this area include pathfinding, anomaly detection, and behavior prediction, each advancing a robot’s ability to act autonomously.

1. Optimize pathfinding algorithms: Experiment with pathfinding techniques to help robots navigate complex spaces like mazes.

2. Train a robot to classify objects: Use machine learning to help robots recognize and categorize objects, essential for sorting and organizing.

3. Develop predictive behavior models: Enable robots to anticipate human actions, a key feature in collaborative robotics environments.

4. Personalize robot behavior: Program a robot to adjust its actions based on individual preferences, tailoring its responses to different users.

5. Use machine learning for anomaly detection: Train a robot to detect malfunctions or unusual patterns—ideal for maintenance in industrial settings.

Research Area #6: Swarm Robotics

Swarm robotics involves coordinating multiple robots to work together. It takes inspiration from insect colonies, like bees or ants.

1. Swarm communication: Study how small robots can communicate to complete tasks as a team.

2. Formation control: Design algorithms for a group of robots to move in formation, which could prove useful in military or surveillance applications.

3. Search-and-rescue swarms: Develop a swarm that can navigate rough terrain to locate people in disaster situations.

4. Cooperative transport: Program a group of robots to collectively carry heavy objects.

5. Self-organizing robots: Experiment with robots that can organize themselves to complete tasks without central control.

Research Area #7: Medical Robotics

The field of medical robotics combines healthcare and robotics and aims to create solutions for surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and patient care.

1. Robotic arm for surgery: Create a prototype robotic arm that simulates precise movements needed for surgery.

2. Wearable exoskeleton for rehabilitation: Design an exoskeleton that helps patients perform physical therapy exercises.

3. Robotic prosthetics: Research how robotic limbs can be controlled by muscle signals.

4. Remote diagnostic robots: Build a robot that assists doctors in remote examinations of patients.

5. Assistive robot for elderly care: Create a robot that can help the elderly with daily tasks and provide companionship.

Research Area #8: Environmental Robotics

Environmental robotics applies robotics to tackle environmental challenges, from ocean exploration to waste management.

1. Underwater exploration robot: Research waterproof robots that can explore and monitor underwater environments.

2. Pollution detection robot: Develop a robot that monitors pollution levels in air or water, useful for environmental conservation.

3. Robotic tree planter: Design a robot that plants seeds, helping with reforestation efforts.

4. Waste-sorting robot: Build a robot that can sort recyclables from waste in a landfill or recycling center.

5. Forest monitoring drones: Create a drone that can survey forests to detect wildfires early on.

Research Area #9: Robotics Ethics and Safety

Ethics and safety in robotics ensure that machines/robots are used responsibly, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare and surveillance.

1. Bias in AI for robotics: Investigate potential biases in AI systems that affect how robots make decisions.

2. Privacy in surveillance robots: Study the ethics of data collection in surveillance robots and propose guidelines.

3. Safety standards for medical robots: Research what safety standards are necessary to make robots safe in healthcare settings.

4. Decision-making in autonomous robots: Develop an ethical framework for autonomous robots making decisions, especially in life-critical situations.

5. Regulatory standards for autonomous vehicles: Research and propose regulations to ensure the safe operation of self-driving cars.

Research Area #10: Robotics Competitions and Innovation

Competitions provide hands-on experience in designing and building robots, as well as a chance to work as part of a team.

1. FIRST Robotics Challenge Robot: Design and build a robot to meet the objectives of a FIRST Robotics Competition.

2. DIY battle bot: Build a small, competitive robot capable of “battling” other robots in a controlled setting.

3. Obstacle-course navigation for RoboCupJunior: Develop a robot that can navigate obstacle courses, a common challenge in RoboCup competitions.

4. Efficient designs for VEX Robotics: Create a robot optimized for speed and efficiency for VEX Robotics competitions.

5. Custom robot using DIY kits: Experiment with robotics kits like Arduino or Raspberry Pi to design a custom robot.

Are you looking to start a project or research paper in the field of AI and ML? Consider applying to Veritas AI!

Veritas AI is an AI program designed for high schoolers. It’s founded and run by Harvard graduate students. The program aims to allow students to create unique projects in the field of AI. Participants will get to learn more about AI from researchers and experts and work 1-on-1 with mentors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and more. In just the past year, we’ve had over a thousand students learn with us! You too can apply!

Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!

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