Exploring the world of robotics can be an exciting and valuable opportunity for high school students as they engage with and learn about cutting-edge technology. By participating in a robotics course, you will gain practical experience in designing, building, and programming robots, which not only enhances your understanding of engineering principles but also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving. As robotics continues to influence various fields, from healthcare to manufacturing, acquiring knowledge in this area can set the foundation for a rewarding career in STEM.

Opting for free robotics courses opens the door for more students to access quality education without the financial burden often associated with traditional programs. These courses allow you to learn at your own pace, providing flexibility to balance your studies with other commitments. Additionally, the wide variety of online offerings means you can explore specific topics that spark your interest, whether programming, mechanical design, or artificial intelligence. 

Here are 8 free robotics courses for high school students you can explore!

1. MITES Summer

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA

Program Dates: Six weeks in the summer, typically late June to August.

Application Deadline: Student applications open in November and close on February 1, 2025. 

Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.

MITES Summer gives high school students the chance to dive deep into STEM, particularly in robotics and engineering. Over six intensive weeks, you will engage in hands-on robotics projects, applying skills in coding, mechanics, and automation to design and build functional systems. These projects challenge students to solve real-world engineering problems while giving them practical experience in key concepts like sensors, control systems, and machine learning. Beyond the classroom, you will get to explore cutting-edge labs and interact with STEM professionals, gaining valuable insights into both the academic and career paths in robotics.

Collaboration is a central aspect of the MITES experience, as students work in teams to tackle complex robotics challenges. This fosters not only technical skills but also communication and teamwork, both of which are essential in the engineering world. MITES also offers personalized college admissions guidance and connects students with alumni who have gone on to top universities, preparing them for the next steps in their academic journey.

2. University of Wisconsin Madison Engineering Summer Program

Location: Virtual or on campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 

Program Dates:

• Virtual ESP: One week in June, followed by an option to join the program on campus.

• ESP: Three weeks in summer, typically July-August

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May. 

Eligibility: 

• For Virtual ESP, students must be current 8th graders or high school freshmen and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. 

• For ESP, students must be current sophomores or juniors in high school, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have completed at least one year of algebra, geometry, and chemistry, and maintain a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Virtual Engineering Summer Program (Virtual ESP) is a unique, fully-funded opportunity for rising 9th and 10th graders to explore various fields of engineering, including robotics, through a one-week online format. As a participant, you will gain first-hand experience with the engineering design process using the engineering kits that will be mailed to you to guide you through the program. With college preparatory workshops and mentorship from undergraduates, you will be introduced to different engineering disciplines, sparking curiosity about how concepts like robotics and automation play a role in the broader field of engineering.

For rising juniors and seniors, the Engineering Summer Program (ESP) provides a more in-depth, three-week residential experience. You will get to dive into subjects like math, physics, and engineering design while taking part in hands-on workshops that often include robotics-related projects. Visits to industry sites and field trips will introduce you to real-world engineering applications while mentoring from faculty and living on campus offers a glimpse of college life.

3. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute

Location: Virtual or MIT campus

Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Virtual courses are open for interested students till November.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.

Eligibility: High school students (except seniors) who are U.S. citizens can apply.

MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, four-week program designed for high school students passionate about robotics and AI. The program blends online courses from January to May with a hands-on summer experience, allowing students to dive deep into practical applications of engineering and technology. 

If you’re specifically interested in robotics, courses like "Autonomous Cognitive Assistance" (CogWorks) provide a chance to explore AI technologies used to build cognitive systems. You get to apply your skills to real-world projects, culminating in a project competition at the end of the program.

Throughout the summer, you will participate in various robotics-related challenges that emphasize creative problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation. You get to experiment with advanced technologies like autonomous air vehicle racing or synthetic aperture radar systems, gaining a well-rounded understanding of how robotics is applied in different fields. This blend of online learning and in-person workshops helps you develop both technical skills and critical thinking. 

The online prerequisite courses are typically free and available to students who register. However, the summer in-person program is free for qualifying families. For families with an income of $150,000 or greater, the program fee is $1,750 (as per the 2024 session).  

4. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program

Location: Northeastern University, Boston 

Program Dates: June 23 – July 31, 2025

Application Deadline: Applications open in December 2024 and close on March 1, 2025.

Eligibility: Applicants must be permanent Massachusetts residents, live within commuting distance of Northeastern University, and be entering 12th grade in the fall following the program; students from any school type – public, private, or homeschooled – may apply.

Northeastern University's Young Scholars Program (YSP) engages high school students inclined towards STEM fields, such as robotics, in a dynamic, hands-on research experience. As a participant, you will gain valuable exposure to robotics through seminars and projects that explore areas like electrical and computer engineering, where robotics plays a central role. 

In addition to the hands-on lab work, you will also be immersed in career exploration and college counseling sessions, which will help you prepare for the transition from high school to higher education. Robotics, along with other STEM disciplines, is explored through field trips to industry and government sites, where you can see engineers working in real-world settings. 

Northeastern’s YSP stands out for combining academic rigor with practical exposure, offering participants a well-rounded introduction to STEM careers, including the rapidly evolving field of robotics.

5. Robotics Foundations I - Robot Modeling by FedericaX on edX

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: October 4 – December 31, 2024

Application Deadline: Open

Eligibility: Anyone interested in robotics can apply.

The Robotics Foundations I – Robot Modeling course on edX by FedericaX introduces students to the fundamental concepts of robot modeling and control. It focuses on understanding the movement (kinematics) of robot arms, using a systematic method to model their motions. 

In this online course, you will learn about concepts, like inverse kinematics and the Jacobian, and learn to solve problems related to robot motion and manipulation. These foundational skills are essential for understanding how robots are designed to interact with their environment, whether in industrial or service applications.

You will also get to explore dynamic models of robotic systems, using both the Lagrange and Newton-Euler formulations to understand equations of motion. This knowledge helps in simulating robot behavior and creating control algorithms. The course covers a wide range of STEM disciplines, including mechanics, control engineering, and mathematical modeling. 

With a focus on real-world applications, students interested in robotics will gain practical skills for both academic research and industry-focused projects.

6. Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program – Robotics Track

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: Varies depending on cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sessions.

Application Deadline: Applications for the Winter session will close on November 24, 2024.

Eligibility: High school seniors from across the globe who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement despite financial hardships are encouraged to apply. There are no specific requirements for GPA, income, or test scores.

The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is designed for high school students who aspire to engage in independent research across various scientific disciplines. Spanning 12 weeks, this program pairs talented students with experienced PhD mentors to guide them through the research process. 

Upon selection, you will benefit from nine individual mentoring sessions and two additional meetings with a writing coach. Workshops focused on the research process further enhance the learning experience, culminating in a 15-page research paper that is presented at the Lumiere Research Symposium.

For those particularly interested in robotics, the program offers the flexibility to explore this exciting field within the broader research framework. You can customize your research topics, which allows you to further delve into specific robotics concepts, such as autonomous systems, robotic design, and artificial intelligence. 

7. Artificial Intelligence for Robotics on Udacity

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: Self-paced

Application Deadline: Open

Eligibility: Anyone interested in robotics can apply.

The Artificial Intelligence for Robotics course offered by Udacity provides a comprehensive introduction to integrating AI technologies into robotics, making it an ideal option for high school students eager to explore this innovative field. Throughout the course, you will learn to program key systems of a robotic car, focusing on essential topics like planning, search algorithms, localization, tracking, and control. Notably, no prior experience is necessary, allowing students from various backgrounds to engage with the material effectively.

One of the key components of the course is the Runaway Robot project, where you apply what you've learned to solve real-world problems. You will explore concepts, such as Kalman filters and particle filters, which are critical for effective localization and navigation. Additionally, the course covers discrete path planning and the algorithms used to address path planning challenges, as well as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). 

By the end of the course, you will not only gain a solid foundation in robotics but also develop practical skills that can be applied in future projects or studies in STEM fields.

8. Northeastern University’s Modern Robotics Course

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: 4 months

Application Deadline: Open

Eligibility: Open to students with related experience, like basic programming skills  

Northeastern University’s Modern Robotics Course is an excellent resource for high school students interested in robotics and engineering. This course is designed to complement the textbook Modern Robotics by Lynch and Park, providing students with a structured yet accessible way to explore the complexities of robotics. 

Topics covered include essential concepts, such as the foundations of robot motion, degrees of freedom, kinematics, and dynamic modeling using both Lagrangian and Newton-Euler formulations. The course also dives into more advanced topics, like motion planning, manipulability, and the controllability of wheeled mobile robots, making it an enriching learning experience.

The course is formatted in such a way that you can learn at your own pace, over the course of four months. With engaging video content available on a widely used platform like YouTube, you can easily access and revisit complex topics whenever needed. 

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!

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