From 6 to 10 April, the Rob9-16 classroom at Técnico – Oeiras Campus was filled with cables, sensors, computers (and a lot of curiosity). Over five days, young participants aged 9 to 16 took part in the “Project X: Autonomy on Wheels” workshop, organised by Rob9-16, a robotics club created in 2024 by Técnico students.
“We learnt how to program and work with Arduino, which is like a mini computer” explained 13-year-old Silvestre Caetano, describing the first contact with the basics of programming and electronics, which marked the start of the week.
As the days went by, concepts started to take shape. After initial exercises, such as programming traffic lights and solving logic challenges, participants moved on to the most anticipated task: building a robotic car. “First we learnt the code and then applied it to the car, which was more complex”, said Maria Carneiro, 15, who saw the activity as an opportunity to explore her interest in engineering.
By combining hardware connections with lines of code, each group assembled its own autonomous vehicle, designed to move and respond to its surroundings. “We had to make sure the car didn’t hit obstacles and could find the best path”, explained Guilherme, a student who took part in the activity.
Throughout the week, the programme included various activities, such as cryptography challenges, digital programming exercises, structural building tasks, and lab visits. “I really enjoyed building the car, but also the computer maze activity and the cryptography challenge”, shared Margarida, 11, who also took part in the activity. “I liked everything!”, she said, summing up her experience.
“It’s fun here, it’s not too serious. You can learn and still feel comfortable”, she added.
The team supporting the workshop highlighted the importance of early exposure to these areas, “it’s important for them to start early”. Ana Pinto, an Aerospace Engineering student and mentor in this edition, shared, “many students arrive at Técnico without ever having tried this, and here they gain both a foundation and confidence, which makes all the difference”.
“I know I want to study something related to robotics, and this event helps me understand what I like”, said 13-year-old Sofia Franco, also pointing out the balance between theory and practice throughout the week, which led her to develop her interest in the field further.
On the final day, all efforts came together in the testing phase. Last-minute adjustments, code fixes and a sense of anticipation set the stage for a mini competition between the vehicles. “We managed to combine learning with hands-on experience”, said Sofia, summing up her experience. “We’re programming, building and seeing things actually work. That’s what makes it so interesting”.
