Foundations of Robot Construction

This unit introduces students to the robotics field, common applications, and the practical skills needed to begin building simple robots using kits and basic materials. Students learn to select appropriate kits, set up a safe and organized workspace, use hand tools and soldering techniques, and apply fundamental electronics, motor, and sensor concepts to assemble and troubleshoot a basic robot prototype in preparation for deeper design and programming units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze historical and contemporary uses of robots and summarize at least three real-world applications, identifying the functional requirements that drive design choices
• Evaluate and select an appropriate robot kit or construction approach by comparing cost, time, learning outcomes, and part availability, and justify the selection with a written rubric
• Demonstrate safe laboratory practices and tool usage by preparing an ideal work area, organizing materials, performing soldering and anti-static procedures, and completing a safety checklist
• Apply basic electronics, motor, and sensor principles to assemble, test, and troubleshoot a simple mobile robot so that it performs a defined locomotion or task reliably during a live demonstration