Kids Explore Robotics
My name is Aarav Agrawal, and I am a senior at Center Grove High School. I was first exposed to robotics in elementary school as I was a member of our robotics team. Although robotics captured my attention, I didn’t continue to pursue it after our family moved and I changed schools. Luckily for me, high school provided me with the opportunities to rediscover my former interest. I took engineering and computer science courses and realized again how much I appreciated robotics.
However, my engineer father and I couldn’t find an existing robotics kit that we truly felt taught the entire creative process of robotics. Most products were one-time-use, and lacked flexibility. The aspect of coding the machine to perform different actions was rarely included, and the inner workings of the motors and microcontroller were covered up.
My dad and I believed we could have a more distinct, thorough, and immersive take on robotics, so we started designing. We sought to maximize educational value, so we wanted a relatively open-concept design that could be manipulated by its user. After a series of prototypes, Robby the Drummer became our final design. It can be used much longer after the initial construction as innovations are made to the code, so varying drum beats are performed. Kids can further explore their imagination with other original applications of their acquired knowledge of programming.
Using my robotics kit, I personally teach kids aged 9+ the basics of robotics and immerse them in a building-your-own-robot experience that is intentionally designed to spark creativity, as well as maximize their comprehension of the potential of robotics. I offer in-person classes where kids can build Robby the Drummer from scratch under my guidance. I personally coach them through the process and teach them how to edit the code to make the robot do as they please. I also have a series of video lessons on YouTube that teach kids the entire process of building and programming the robot for those that can’t attend the in-person classes.
My goal is simply to spread interest and provide opportunity to those who may not have had significant involvement in robotics previously.
Here is a little more about me:
An aspiring engineering student with a stellar academic record
Selected as a candidate in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program - one of 5,000 selected candidates out of 3.6 Million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2024 .
Recognized as a Bright Ideas student at the Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame Gala
Invited to JA JobSpark & CareerIgnite events to discuss robotics with kids
Featured in Southside Times, Johnson County Icon, and Daily Journal
Supported by an experienced engineer dad
