A hands-on robotics course inspired by real planetary exploration
Mission to Mars is a project-based robotics curriculum where students design, build, and program a Mars rover from the ground up. Over two immersive weeks, learners experience authentic engineering work — mechanical design, CAD, electronics, sensors, and software — all tied together by a space exploration theme.
This repository contains the course structure, hardware list, and instructional flow so educators, camps, and robotics programs can run the experience themselves.
This is not a step-by-step kit build. Students think, design, test, fail, and iterate — just like engineers working on real missions.
Students will:
- Design and build a functional rover
- Compare and program differential vs. mecanum drivetrains
- Learn robot programming using Android Studio and a Rev Robotics Control Hub
- Design and build a servo-powered robotic arm and claw for simulated Mars sample collection
- Use CAD to design real robot parts
- Develop teamwork, communication, and engineering problem-solving skills
- Present and demo their rover in a final showcase
The course ends with a Mars Rover Demo Day, where teams present their robot to family and friends.
- High school students (Grades 9–12)
- Summer camps
- STEM enrichment programs
- Robotics clubs
- Schools running short-term engineering intensives
Students work in teams of 4-6, mirroring real engineering teams.
| Area | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | Build multiple drivetrains and robot mechanisms |
| Robotics Programming | TeleOp control, motor control, servo programming |
| CAD | Design robot components like a claw |
| Systems Integration | Combine drivetrain, arm, sensors, and code |
| Engineering Process | Plan → Build → Test → Iterate |
| Presentation Skills | Technical demos and team presentations |
Students build the base rover and learn core robot systems.
- Introduction to tools, safety, and the Mars mission challenge
- Engineering design principles
- Build a differential drivetrain
- Learn robot wiring and Control Hub setup
- Introduction to Android Studio robot code structure
- Compare drivetrain performance
- Build and program a mecanum drivetrain
- Measure roll, strafe, and turning performance
Students turn the rover into a complete exploration robot.
- Learn about servos and actuators
- Build a robot arm for sample collection
- Introduction to CAD and design of a custom claw
- Attach and program the claw
- Synchronize multi-step robot actions
- Final integration and practice
- Showcase Day presentations and demos
The course is built around a modular FTC-style robotics ecosystem including:
- Control Hub and Driver Hub
- GoBilda drivetrain components (mecanum and differential)
- Servos and Motors
- CAD and 3D printing capability
A full inventory list is included in this repository.
This repository is designed for educators and program leaders.
- Review the hardware inventory list
- Order parts per team
- Prepare laptops with required software
- Review the daily course breakdown
- Test drivetrain builds
- Run sample code on hardware
- Follow the day-by-day structure
- Adjust depth based on student experience
- Emphasize iteration and experimentation, not perfection
- Have fun robot competitions that encourages creativity and learning from failure
Have each team present:
- Their rover design
- Engineering challenges they faced
- A live robot demonstration
This course emphasizes:
- Learning by building
- Engineering thinking over memorization
- Team-based problem solving
- Real-world robotics tools and systems
- Confidence through creation
Students leave not just knowing what a robot is, but having engineered one themselves.
The curriculum is flexible:
- Reduce coding complexity for younger groups
- Go deeper into sensors or autonomy for advanced students
- Add challenges such as speed trials, obstacle courses, or sample retrieval tasks
This repository is licensed under the terms in LICENSE-MMCL-1.1.txt.
- Read LICENSE-MMCL-1.1.txt before using, modifying, or redistributing any materials in this repository.
- Commercial use of any materials in this repository is strictly prohibited without explicit prior written permission from the copyright holder.
- All materials are provided as-is, without warranty.
- You are responsible for safe use of tools, electronics, and hardware in your classroom or lab environment.