Program Overview

Program Overview

The Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC) introduces students to the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. This is a 2-week, full-day summer program for rising 9th through 12th-grade high school students.

Program Details

• Hands-On Robotics & Engineering: Build and program interactive robotic devices using microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators.
• Foundational Programming Skills: Learn coding constructs like variables, conditionals, loops, and binary code to bring robots to life.
• Program Electrical & Mechanical Engineering: Gain experience with circuitry, electronic components, and automation systems.
• Robot Competitions & Challenges: Put your robot to the test in tournament-style challenges, where students compete in tasks and real-world robotics scenarios.

Prerequisites

• AP Math, Algebra 2, Trigonometry
• Preference for completion of PreCalc and enrollment in AP Stats/Calculus

Eligibility

• Accepting students age 15+ (current 9th - graduating 12th graders)
• Accepting US residents and international students

Program Structure

• Two-week summer program, Monday–Friday, 9 AM-4 PM
• Located at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: To Be Announced
• Decisions Release Date: To Be Announced
• Program session dates: To Be Announced

Expenses

• TOTAL COST: $3,300
  • Course Tuition: $2,800
  • Materials: $250
  • NYU Events: $100 ($50 per week)
  • Application Fee: $50
  • NYU Service Fee: $100
• Additional Cost:
  • Housing Fee: $638.00 ($319 per week)
  • Mandatory Meal plan with housing: $398 ($199 per week - 10 meals plus 30 Dining Dollars)

Program Description

SPARC introduces students to the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. Students do not need experience in robotics to participate in SPARC, but should be academically strong students with an interest in robotics and the ability to take initiative. During the program, students will learn about applications for microcontrollers, interface sensors, and actuators through hands-on manipulation of the components provided in their robotics kit.

What You Will Experience

• Hands-On Robotics & Engineering: Build and program interactive robotic devices using microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators.
• Foundational Programming Skills: Learn coding constructs like variables, conditionals, loops, and binary code to bring robots to life.
• Program Electrical & Mechanical Engineering: Gain experience with circuitry, electronic components, and automation systems.
• Robot Competitions & Challenges: Put your robot to the test in tournament-style challenges, where students compete in tasks and real-world robotics scenarios.

Student Testimonials

"the robotics project was really great, and it was super fun to be able to build and program a robot with someone i met just a week earlier. we even won 2nd in the competition at the end, which was really cool. the environment was great -- even though we lost to the 1st place team, everyone was very encouraging. we had a lot of freedom to do whatever we wanted, which i liked a lot. SPARC gave me the confidence and experience i needed to pursue robotics in the future, and i even joined my school's robotics team a few months after..." "SPARC completely changed the course of my life because i really wanted to do computer science before that, and i only had programming experience before... now i applied to every one of my colleges as a mechanical engineering major. i really loved the projects with the arduino and breadboard, because it showed me that while electrical circuits look complicated, they are actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it. and the lesson about electricity actually helped me in my physics class the next year! "

Meet Our Mentors

SPARC is led by Prof. Vikram Kapila alongside several colleagues from Tandon's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.