Courses

Introduction to Robotics

All Dates and Tuition
Modality
In Person
Identification Level
Quantitative - CTY-Level
Tuition
$3,212 - $7,801

About the Course

In the field of robotics, computer science and engineering interface to create interdependent systems that can perform a variety of tasks, from manufacturing microchips to exploring Mars. In this course, we'll learn computer science concepts and explore topics such as algorithms, sequential control flow, and Boolean operators. We'll survey basic principles of physics and mechanical engineering, such as simple machines and locomotion, and of electrical engineering, such as circuits and sensor feedback. You and your classmates will build, program, and test robots in a modern programming environment. With each project, learn the basic computer science and engineering principles that underlie everything from home toasters to space shuttles, and gain a foundation in fields that will become increasingly important in the highly technical 21st century.

Typical Class Size: 14-16 

Learning Objectives

  • Design, plan, and build interdependent autonomous machines using robotics parts
  • Create and interpret flow charts, building sketches and explaining them through documentation
  • Compare and contrast software, hardware, and firmware and their role in robotics
  • Formulate the main principles of programming including algorithm, variable, conditional, iteration, parallel/serial processing and subroutines, and test systems using an object-oriented or non-graphic user interface platform
  • Construct and demonstrate inputs, outputs, and processing within a program, system, and robotic device
  • Develop and explain ideas of feedback and control structures within a network, and a centralized and decentralized system
  • Present algorithmic solutions as executed by a robot, and explain their processes
  • Justify the use of structure, center of gravity, torque, traction, and other physical attributes in effective robot design
  • Defend the importance of voltage, current, transistors, and other electrical aspects of robot design
  • Propose general practices and structures of software programming languages

About Advanced Enrichment courses

These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. Students work individually and may finish the course early if they complete all requirements before the course end date.

Requirements

CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.

Identification Details
Grade 5–6
Identification Level
Quantitative - CTY-Level
Coursework Prerequisites None

Dates and Tuition

All CTY courses require you to create an account and confirm Identification Level before enrolling can be completed.

In Person

Residential Site icon Residential Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 21, 2026 - Jul 10, 2026
$7,549 Residential
$6,717 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 14, 2026

Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 12, 2026 - Jul 31, 2026
$7,549 Residential
$6,717 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Map icon

Gilman School

Baltimore, MD
Day Site icon Day Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 17, 2026
$3,212

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 21, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
$3,212

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Map icon

Speyer School

New York, NY
Day Site icon Day Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 17, 2026
$4,117

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 21, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
$4,117

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Map icon

UC-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA
Residential Site icon Residential Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 17, 2026
$7,801 Residential
$6,969 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 21, 2026

Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
$7,801 Residential
$6,969 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Filling up fast! 2 spots left
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Residential Site icon Residential Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 17, 2026
$7,801 Residential
$6,969 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 21, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
$7,801 Residential
$6,969 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Full Waitlist Available
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Map icon

Ursinus College

Collegeville, PA
Residential Site icon Residential Site
Summer A 2026
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 17, 2026
$7,549 Residential
$6,717 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 21, 2026

Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Summer B 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Aug 7, 2026
$7,549 Residential
$6,717 Commuter

You will be asked to join or sign in first.

Register by:

Register by: June 8, 2026

Filling up fast! 3 spots left
Time Commitment:

Time Commitment:

Important Information

This course has a lab fee of $187.

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO Spike Prime, by Aaron Maurer

Registration Fee and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.

Learn more about Financial Aid
Join Fee $55

If you are not a member of CTY yet, you are required to join before enrolling in a course.

Join CTY
In-Person registration fee $75

Non-refundable fee for in-person courses.

Online Registration Fee $15-$20

Non-refundable fee for online courses.

Robotics and Technology

Jumpstart your path to a tech-powered future with fun challenges and hands-on projects that bring design, coding, and problem solving to life. 

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