13 Robotics Programs for High School Students in Florida
Robotics is rapidly evolving as a field within science and engineering, shaping the future of technology. If you’re aiming to deepen your understanding and practical skills in robotics, there are many top-tier robotics programs for high school students in Florida. These range from in-person sessions at prestigious universities to flexible virtual courses that ensure accessibility and high-quality learning experiences.
Robotics programs for high school students in Florida enhance real-world understanding by applying theoretical concepts to practical challenges, making learning more engaging and relevant. They also foster teamwork and creativity through hands-on projects while preparing you for growing careers in STEM fields, such as AI and engineering.
Here are 10 robotics programs for high school students in Florida that you can follow to deepen your understanding of robotics!
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts from $2,290 (need-based financial aid available) You can apply here
Dates: Spring cohort starts in March; more info here
Application Deadline: Rolling. The spring cohort deadline is January 5, 2025
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students. Applicants to the AI Fellowship program should have completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers programs tailored for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you’re interested in exploring the fields of AI, ML, and data science, you will benefit from the AI Scholars program. It is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI & data science while also giving you the chance to work on real-world projects.
On the other hand, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is for more advanced students. During this program, you’ll get to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A stand-out feature of this program is that it will give you access to the in-house publication team, which will help you secure publications in high school research journals. The fellowship encourages you to explore interdisciplinary approaches, enabling you to merge AI with fields like finance, medicine, sports, environmental science, and more! You can also take a look at some examples of past projects here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost:
Labs course – $5,950
Seminars course – $5,950
Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts in the year. The Spring 2025 cohort starts on March 3, 2025
Application Date: February 16, 2025, for the Spring 2025 cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA). Most accepted students are 10th – 11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) is a trimester-long research program for high school students in data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers the choice to engage in quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you’ve picked a subject track and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon will pair you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university. They will be your mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will focus on developing a 20-page research paper that you eventually can send to prestigious journals for publication. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,990
Dates: 8 weeks. Winter Cohort II starts from January 20, 2025
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts are available throughout the year. December 29, 2024, for Winter Cohort II
Eligibility: Enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program designed for high school students. It offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students.
As a participant, you will be paired with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects, such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Florida Atlantic University Engineering Summer Camp
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: $1,000; varies by program
Dates: Typically in the summer; specific dates vary by program; 2025 dates TBA
Application Deadline: 2025 dates TBA
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9-12; the different courses have a different eligibility criterion
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science for an immersive STEM experience deep dives into various engineering programs, including robotics, computer science, environmental engineering, and ocean engineering. Through hands-on learning and guidance from esteemed faculty, you will explore these fields, gain new skills, and expand your science, technology, engineering, and mathematics knowledge.
Based on your interests, you can choose from five summer camps:
I-DeepLearn Summer Workshop: This is a competitive program that introduces female high school students to machine learning and deep learning. For over a week, you will learn about Python, experience hands-on research in machine learning, and more.
Ocean Engineering Summer Workshop: Over the four days, you will learn about fluid mechanics through ongoing research projects and gain an understanding of how it influences the design and operation of everyday objects like bridges, aircraft, etc., and much more.
Traffic Engineering & Intelligent Transportation Systems: This program will give you insight into the world of traffic engineering. You’ll get to experience essential tools like traffic simulation and signal timing software and engage with modern traffic monitoring and much more.
Green Future: From Sky to Ground: This program tackles issues like air pollution and solid waste challenges. You’ll get to learn about engineering basics, environmental engineering tools, and more.
Crystal Summer School: During this program, you will explore things like crystals' environmental impact, biomineralization process, and how marine organisms build skeletal elements. You’ll also get to learn about nanotechnology, marine life in South Florida, and much more.
5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Summer Programs: Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: $1,000 + non-refundable $30 registration fee
Dates: July 20 – 25, 2025
Application Deadline: April 3, 2025
Eligibility: High school students aged ages 15 – 18
The Robotics & Autonomous Systems workshop is designed to let high school students explore opportunities in robotics and autonomous systems. During this weeklong program, you will work with faculty and collegiate robotics competition teams to design, build, program, and test autonomous robots. The workshop will introduce concepts from mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, providing a foundation for future studies in engineering and robotics.
6. Robotics Foundations I – Robot Modeling by FedericaX on edX
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (pay for certificate)
Dates: 8 weeks; self-paced
Application Deadline: Open
Eligibility: Anyone interested in robotics
The Robotics Foundations I – Robot Modeling by FedericaX on edX is a two-part course that explores the foundations of robotics—especially robot modeling and robot manipulators. The program focuses on developing your understanding of the movement (kinematics) of robot arms. While this course is for intermediate learners, there are no prerequisites to participate.
During the course, you’ll expand your knowledge of concepts like inverse kinematics and the Jacobian, engineering statics, control engineering, industrial robotics, and more. You’ll also get to explore dynamic models of robotic systems and focus on real-world applications.
7. Playto Labs Summer Robotics Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $800 – $1,000 for live 1:1 classes over 7-8 months, including a robotics kit
Dates: Throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 8-16
The Playto Labs Robotics Summer Camp is an online program designed for students aged 8-16. It focuses on robotics, coding, and electronics. For 7-8 months, you will take part in live 1:1 classes with personalized instruction. You will also receive a robotics kit and work on hands-on projects to build, program, and test your own robots.
The camp covers a range of topics including robotics design, coding fundamentals, and electronics, providing students with practical experience in these fields.
Location: Kennedy Space Center, FL; remote programs open
Stipend: Most internships are paid; some are unpaid volunteer opportunities
Dates: Varies; based on program
Application Deadline:
Summer 2025: Feb. 28, 2025
Fall 2025: May 16, 2025
Eligibility: Full-time students (high school through graduate level) who are at least 16 years old at the time of application; U.S. citizens; must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school and college-level students, providing an opportunity to contribute to the agency’s mission in advancing science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. Typically these internships cover a wide range of areas, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, robotics, and ecology. As a participant, you will get to gain practical work experience while collaborating with mentors, including research scientists, engineers, and professionals from various fields.
9. Carnegie Mellon Virtual Robot Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; based on the program
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Some programs are open to high school students
The Virtual Robot Curriculum from the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy integrates a programming interface and a virtual robot directly into the learning experience. You can engage with the curriculum through instructional videos, animations, challenges, and guided lessons, all within a fully virtual environment.
It allows you to learn without the need for physical robot kits or programming software. The curriculum provides everything required for each lesson, including the virtual robot, challenge table, and programming environment. The CS-STEM Network tracks your progress, including the programs you create for the virtual robot. There's no need for file management, downloads, or updates, as the latest version of the curriculum and tools is always available. This curriculum builds on Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy's expertise in achieving meaningful learning outcomes in coding, computational thinking, and mathematics using both virtual and physical robots.
10. Michigan University’s Robotics Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (Robotics 101 and related resources)
Dates: Self-paced with continuous enrollment
Application Deadline: None (open access)
Eligibility: Open to all learners, no prior programming or calculus knowledge required
The University of Michigan offers online robotics courses that cover various aspects of the field, including introductory and advanced topics. The courses are accessible as part of their open curriculum, which provides free online materials for self-study. This initiative aims to expand learning opportunities in areas like robotics engineering, machine learning, and control systems.
The introductory course, Robotics 101: Computational Linear Algebra, focuses on essential concepts in linear algebra applied to real-world robotics projects, such as building maps with LiDAR data. It aims to make robotics education accessible, particularly for beginners and those without a strong technical background. Additional courses like Robotic Mechanisms and Human-Robot Systems are available for further exploration.
11. iD Tech Virtual Robotics Camps
Location: University of Florida, Tampa
Cost: Starts from $1,100
Dates: Dates differ by program; June to July
Application Deadline: As per availability
Eligibility: High school students
At iD Tech's Tampa camps, you'll balance learning STEM skills and working with peers. You'll get the chance to collaborate with expert tech mentors while taking courses like ‘Robotics Engineering with VEX,’ ‘Python Camp: Intro to Coding & AI,’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. These courses are designed to help you build essential tech skills while having fun and working on real-world projects.
12. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI): Summer Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: This program consists of two components.
Online Course: February 3 - June 20, 2025.
Four-week Virtual Summer Institute: July 7 - August 3, 2025.
Application Deadline: Applications for online courses open in December 2024 and close in January 2025. Applications for Summer Institute opens on March 3, 2025, and closes on March 31, 2025
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year. Completion of online courses is mandatory to participate in the Summer Institute.
The MIT Beavers program emphasizes hands-on learning in robotics, allowing you to work on real-world projects that integrate AI and machine learning with robotic systems. You'll gain experience designing, building, and programming robotic platforms, applying concepts like sensor integration, motion control, and autonomous navigation. These practical sessions help you understand how to conduct lab work and field research, preparing you for advanced studies or careers in robotics.
If you’re an aspiring computer scientist interested in machine learning, robotics, cybersecurity, and how these fields connect with others, the BWSI program is an excellent choice!
Location: Florida. See camp locations here
Cost: Varies, depending on the program
Dates: Typically begin in June
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
Drobots summer camps are typically week-long programs designed for elementary, middle school, and high school students. It explores tech like drones, 3D and 2D design, digital animation, Roblox and Minecraft game design, LEGO STEM, robotics, AI, VR, AR, MR, and 3D printing!
As a high school student, you can participate in the Drone Programs Coding & Flying camps. There are two options you can choose from: the Residential Drone Academy for Students Entering Grades 7th to 12th and the Drone Summer Camps For Students in Rising 9th to 12th Grades. During the Residential Drone Academy, you’ll spend a week learning about drones and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). You’ll do things like learn to safely build, fly, fix, and control a drone, create a drone-based business model, and more. On the other hand, during the Drone Summer Camp, you’ll develop STEM skills and learn about the future of robotics, the drone industry, and more.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
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