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    In-person Program

    Robotics High School Course

    by Summer Springboard

    Build, wire and program autonomous robots through hands-on challenges, specialist visits and a team project in a focused pre-college engineering course.

    Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
    Robotics High School Course

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    Robotics Summer Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Applications open

    Eligibility

    Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18

    Location / Region

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Cost

    $2,998; $5,398

    Duration

    Two weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Application deadline

    Rolling · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

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    Artificial IntelligenceEngineeringTechnology

    Accommodation: Shared campus dormitories

    Meals: Residential full board

    Certificate / Outcome: 3 CEUs plus certificate

    Latest verified cycle: 2026

    Sessions / cadence: 9 x 3-hour classes

    Assessment style: Practical team project

    Main output: Autonomous robot demonstration

    Robotics Summer Course summary

    A practical pre-college course covering the electronics, mechanics and programming behind autonomous robots.

    Students build and wire robots, integrate motors and sensors, troubleshoot systems and complete daily hands-on challenges.

    The experience suits students who want concentrated engineering practice and a realistic introduction to robotics careers and university campus life.

    What is Robotics High School Course?

    The Robotics High School Course is a focused Summer Springboard experience delivered in partnership with Cal Poly Extended Education. It introduces the electronics, mechanics and programming that allow autonomous machines to sense, move and respond.

    Students learn through practical construction, wiring, coding and testing rather than lectures alone. Daily challenges lead toward a team-built autonomous robot, supported by visits exploring agricultural mechatronics, computer vision, AI and commercial robotics.

    Why Succeed highlights Robotics Summer Course

    • The course combines electronics, programming and mechanical assembly in one integrated robotics experience.

    • Nine three-hour classes provide substantial time for practical building, testing and debugging.

    • The final autonomous robot project gives students a concrete way to demonstrate applied learning.

    • Visits to the agricultural mechatronics lab and TRIC Robotics connect course concepts with real applications.

    • Cal Poly professor Dr. Bo Liu brings expertise in robotics, automation and AI for precision agriculture.

    Who is Robotics Summer Course for?

    Best for

    High school students who enjoy building, coding and solving practical engineering problems, including beginners seeking a structured introduction to autonomous systems.

    Not ideal if

    You want a broad multi-subject summer experience or prefer theory without extended hands-on teamwork, testing and debugging.

    Is Robotics Summer Course worth it?

    It can be worthwhile for students who want enough time to move beyond simple robot assembly and understand how electronics, sensors, motors and code work together. The final project, specialist visits and named faculty expertise give the course a coherent academic focus.

    The limitation is that this is a concentrated experience with substantial tuition, especially for residential attendance. Its value therefore depends on whether a student genuinely wants robotics depth and will use the project, credentials and career insight afterward.

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $2,998; $5,398; includes Residential: academic program and excursions, Residential: lodging and all meals, Residential: evening and weekend activities, Commuter: academic program and excursions, Commuter: weekday lunch and college-readiness workshops, Both options: orientation and college tours.

    Accommodation

    Shared campus dormitories

    Meals

    Residential full board

    Provider details

    Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    Two weeks; San Luis Obispo, California.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Robotics Summer Course need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high.

    Best started

    Begin planning two to three months before the anticipated application window, allowing time for forms, travel, payment and any international documentation.

    Main challenge

    Integrating mechanical, electronic and software components into one reliable autonomous system.

    Typical preparation

    • Refresh basic programming ideas such as variables, conditions and input/output.

    • Practice explaining technical problems clearly so your team can test fixes methodically.

    • Prepare for shared campus life, long structured days and practical collaboration.

    What do students do on Robotics Summer Course?

    Students progress from core electronic and programming concepts to an integrated autonomous machine, testing each subsystem through practical challenges.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Learn voltage, current, breadboarding and safe wiring fundamentals.

    2. 2

      Program digital and analog inputs, PWM and timing controls.

    3. 3

      Connect motors, motor drivers and sensors to the robot.

    4. 4

      Build and tune the chassis, locomotion and odometry systems.

    5. 5

      Test sensor-actuator loops and debug hardware and software faults.

    6. 6

      Design and demonstrate a team robot that navigates and makes decisions independently.

    7. 7

      Visit robotics and agricultural mechatronics facilities for real-world context.

    Robotics Summer Course dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Applications

    Rolling admissions

    Applications were accepted until courses filled.

    Reference date

    General admission

    16 May 2026

    Final deadline for the verified 2026 cycle.

    Reference date

    Session 2

    19-31 July 2026

    The published Robotics course session.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Students in Grades 9-12

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA or local equivalent

    • At least completed Grade 8 before the program

    • Students entering high school in fall may enroll

    • Spring high school graduates may enroll

    • International students must demonstrate English proficiency

    • Applicants must meet essential eligibility criteria

    How much does Robotics Summer Course cost?

    Program tuition

    $2,998; $5,398 — Commuter and all-inclusive residential options.

    Funding or discounts

    • Deposit: $600 — Paid when reserving a place.
    • Application fee: $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable for the base cycle fee.
    • Alumni scholarship: $500 — Advertised for eligible alumni in the verified cycle.

    What's included

    Residential: academic program and excursions, Residential: lodging and all meals, Residential: evening and weekend activities, Commuter: academic program and excursions, Commuter: weekday lunch and college-readiness workshops, Both options: orientation and college tours

    How to apply to Robotics Summer Course

    1. 1

      Create the application account using a parent’s name, email and date of birth.

    2. 2

      Verify the email address, set a password and complete the parent profile.

    3. 3

      Add the participating student and start a new application.

    4. 4

      Select Cal Poly, the preferred session, Robotics and the tuition type.

    5. 5

      Pay the application fee and deposit to reserve a place, or complete the full application immediately.

    6. 6

      Complete the medical questionnaire and student-answered application questions.

    7. 7

      Submit all required forms and await the decision by email.

    What does Robotics Summer Course cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Electronics and microcontrollers

    Learn voltage, current, breadboarding, wiring safety and embedded control foundations.

    Robot programming

    Control hardware using digital and analog input/output, PWM and timing.

    Motors and sensors

    Integrate motors, drivers and sensors into responsive autonomous control systems.

    Movement and navigation

    Explore locomotion, odometry, path execution and foundational robot navigation.

    Integration and debugging

    Assemble complete systems and isolate hardware or software faults safely.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Robotics Summer Course?

    A typical day during the program.

    9:00 a.m. noon

    Robotics classes run Monday-Friday in week one and Monday-Thursday in week two.

    1:30 p.m.

    Students join an academic excursion or recreational activity.

    3:30 p.m.

    College-readiness or personal-development workshops follow the main activity.

    7:00 p.m.

    Residential students take part in clubs and scheduled evening activities.

    Who teaches on Robotics Summer Course?

    The named instructor is Dr. Bo Liu, a professor in Cal Poly’s BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department. His work spans mechatronics, robotics, automation, AI and precision-agriculture applications.

    Cal Poly faculty teach the partnership program and provide access to facilities used by Cal Poly students.

    Where do students stay on Robotics Summer Course?

    Residential plan

    • Campus housing: Students live in Cal Poly dormitories on gender-segregated floors.
    • Full board: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in residential tuition.
    • Residential support: A mentor lives on each hall floor, with staff support available around the clock.
    • Campus security: Dormitories use electronic keys, 24-hour security and university patrols.

    Non-residential plan

    • Commuter day: Commuter programming runs on weekdays and includes lunch.
    • Campus activities: Commuters join academic courses, excursions and daytime programming.

    Residential students share dorm rooms with roommates and use common bathrooms.

    What happens after Robotics Summer Course?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Use the autonomous robot project as evidence of practical engineering exploration.

    Add three Cal Poly Continuing Education Units to appropriate applications or résumés.

    Receive a Summer Springboard certificate of completion.

    Receive a participation letter describing course activities, projects and excursions.

    Explore future study in robotics, mechatronics, automation or agricultural engineering.

    The CEUs represent supervised contact hours but do not count toward a degree.

    Where does Robotics Summer Course take place?

    The course takes place at Cal Poly SLO in San Luis Obispo, between California’s coast and rolling hills. Students use a large university campus shaped by Cal Poly’s practical Learn by Doing approach, with residential and commuter ways to participate.

    Course-specific and recreational excursions may visit locations around California’s Central Coast.

    Robotics Summer Course FAQs

    The course covers electronics, microcontrollers, robot programming, motor control, sensors, mechanical assembly, locomotion, odometry, navigation and debugging.

    Yes. Teams design and demonstrate a robot that can navigate and make decisions independently, applying the systems they have built and tested.

    The named instructor is Dr. Bo Liu, a Cal Poly professor specializing in mechatronics, robotics, automation and AI applications in precision agriculture.

    Week one has classes from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Week two has classes at the same time from Monday through Thursday, producing nine three-hour sessions.

    Yes. The commuter option includes the academic course, excursions, weekday lunch and daytime programming. The residential option adds lodging, full board, evening activities and weekend excursions.

    Students share Cal Poly dorm rooms with roommates and use common bathrooms. Residential mentors live on the hall floors, and campus staff and security provide round-the-clock support.

    Students can receive three Cal Poly Continuing Education Units, a Summer Springboard completion certificate and a participation letter. CEUs require satisfactory participation and do not count toward a degree.

    Yes. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a telephone interview or one of the published minimum test scores.

    Alternatives to Robotics Summer Course

    Compare these related engineering, technology and practical-design programs if you want a different subject mix or campus.

    Alternatives to Robotics Summer Course

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    Sean Stevens

    Content reviewed by

    Sean Stevens

    Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)

    Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Request Free Catalog Cal Poly Extended Education — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • Tuition & Dates — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • Track Course - Robotics — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • Terms & Conditions | Policies & Terms | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Cal Poly | Campus | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Robotics | Cal Poly | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • (1) New Messages!
    • 2026 HS 2-week Cal Poly Robotics V3
    • Tuition Protection Plan T&C
    • Robotics | Cal Poly | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)

    • Course content checked

    • Tuition options verified

    • Session dates reviewed

    • Eligibility criteria checked

    • Application process reviewed

    • Accommodation details verified

    • Policies reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.