Intro to Building Robots: Hands-on Workshop (XRP Platform)

Ever wanted to build and program your own robot but didn't know where to start? Skip the dry lectures and join us at Alamo Tech Collective's Hackerspace for a high-energy, fully hands-on workshop where you will build, program, and deploy a wheeled autonomous robot from scratch!
We are using the brand-new SparkFun Experiential Robotics Platform (XRP), a tool-free, beginner-friendly robotics kit designed to make learning robotics fast, intuitive, and incredibly fun.
Whether you are a software developer looking to bridge into hardware, a student curious about automation, or an absolute beginner who has never touched code, this workshop is designed for you.

🛠️ What We'll Do:
We will pair up in teams of two (one "Driver" managing assembly/hardware and one "Programmer" handling the code, switching roles throughout) to tackle real-world engineering challenges:

• Part 1: The Build (Tool-Free Assembly) – Piece together your robot's chassis, mount the motors, and plug in the controller.
• Part 2: Hello World, Robot Style – Write your first program to make your robot drive, spin, and perform a custom "robot dance."
• Part 3: The Precision Driving Challenge – Program your robot to navigate a taped obstacle course utilizing differential steering.
• Part 4: Robot Perception (Sensors) – Integrate an ultrasonic distance sensor to teach your robot how to see, back up, and avoid obstacles dynamically.
• Part 5: Autonomous Grand Prix – Put it all together! Compete in a final tournament featuring line-following tracks and autonomous navigation challenges.

👥 Who This is For:

• Ages 16 to adult.
• Absolute beginners! No prior robotics, electronics, or programming experience required.
• Developers wanting hands-on experience with hardware/embedded logic.

💻 What to Bring:

• A laptop or Chromebook with a USB port (or appropriate adapter) and a charger.
• An open mind and a collaborative attitude!

🎙️ About your Instructors:
This session is led by Daniel Espinoza and Microchips & Queso Robotics, local robotics educators dedicated to making hardware engineering accessible to the San Antonio community.

Robot kits are instructional aids only and may not be taken.