Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics Pre-College Summer Program
Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics Pre-College Summer Program for High School Students
Registration Details:
- Program Dates:Â June 21 – 26, 2026
- Cost:Â $1,840 (includes lodging, meals, course materials, activities, and excursions)
- Eligibility:Â Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Housing & Dining:Â Students reside in campus residence hall and dine in campus dining hall
- Deposit & Payment: A $500 deposit is required at registration, with the remaining balance due by May 1, 2026. After that date, full payment is required upon registration. Click  to view our cancellation policy.
- Enrollment:Â Open until all spaces are filled
- Registration:Â Registration is through the Camp Doc platform. Detailed step-by-step registration instructions are availableÂ
Build & Program Robots
Launch into the world of engineering and robotics with our brand-new Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics Pre-College Program. This immersive, hands-on summer experience is designed for high school students eager to explore mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and robotics in a fun and engaging environment.
Whether you’re new to programming or already skilled in robotics, the program adapts to your experience level. You’ll build and program your own BOE-Bot robot, learning how to control it remotely and create autonomous behaviors using C++. By the end of the week, you’ll have gained valuable engineering and coding skills that provide a strong foundation for future STEM studies.
The program culminates in an exciting mini sumo-bot competition, where students test their customized robots in a friendly engineering challenge.
Why This Program Stands Out:
- Designed for both beginners and advanced students
- A true hands-on introduction to multiple engineering fields
- College-level engineering and coding experience in a supportive environment
- A personal robot you can continue to program and explore at home
- Each participant will assemble and keep their own BOE-Bot robotics kit, offering continued learning opportunities long after the program end
- Excellent preparation for future robotics clubs, STEM courses, and college applications
Technology Requirement
Students must bring a personal smartphone to the program, as it will be used to control the BOE-Bot via Bluetooth.
What You’ll Learn
Engineering Foundations
- Overview of key engineering fields:Â Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechatronics
- Understanding how mechanical systems, electronics, and programming come together to create functional robots
Programming & Robotics
- Introduction to C++ programming
- How to modify and enhance supplied C++ code
- Autonomous robot behaviors:
- Pre-programmed movement patterns
- Light/dark surface detection
- Object sensing and avoidance
- Object seeking
- Bluetooth remote control development and mobile-device integration
Hands-On Activities
- Build and customize the BOE-Bot
- Program basic and advanced movement patterns
- Install and test light/dark sensors
- Create border-detection reactions for a competition arena
- Add an ultrasonic distance sensor
- Program object-avoidance and object-seeking behaviors
- Add Bluetooth capability
- Control your BOE-Bot from your smartphone
- Participate in a featherweight sumo-bot competition
Sample Schedule:
| Morning | 8 a.m. – Breakfast 9 a.m. – Intro to Engineering & Robotics Concepts (mechanics, electronics, programming) 10:30 a.m. - Hands-on Build Session 12 p.m. – Lunch & free time |
| Afternoon | 1 p.m. – Programming / Coding Session (C++ / sensor programming / robot control) 3 p.m. - Testing & Debugging |
| Evening | 5 p.m. – Dinner 6:30 p.m. – Activities / Recreation / Free Time Options could include: sand volleyball, Asheville Tourists game, game night, movie 11 p.m. – Lights out |
Meet Your Faculty
Dr. Gene Ungar worked for 35 years at NASA/Johnson Space Center in Houston before joining the faculty at UNC-Asheville. He teaches the Introduction to Mechatronics Laboratory in the joint UNCA/NCSU engineering program plus Thermal Sciences classes.
Avi Silverman is a professor of mechatronics engineering in the joint UNCA/NCSU engineering program. He has led numerous STEM based workshops and after-school programs for students from elementary through high school, and brings 20 years of industry experience in designing robotic and embedded control systems.
Questions? Please contact us at precollege@unca.edu.