Hexapod robot. The Morning Set
VAT inc
Available for: 8+ years old
5 days, from 20 Jul'26 - 24 Jul’26
Start at 9.00 until 12.00
In this hands-on robotics project, pupils build their own autonomous walking hexapod robot powered by an ESP32 microcontroller. Using servo motors, distance sensors, and custom electronics, pupils assemble and program a small multi-legged robot capable of walking forward, reversing, and reacting to nearby objects. By the end of the camp, every participant takes home a fully working robot that they built and programmed themselves.
The project introduces pupils to the core principles behind real walking robots and autonomous machines. Pupils learn how servo motors create controlled movement, how coordinated motion sequences generate a walking gait, and how electronic sensors allow robots to interact with the environment. The robot uses paired MG90S servo motors to control body tilt and leg movement, creating a stable walking mechanism inspired by real hexapod robots.
Before writing code, pupils design their wiring diagrams in Fritzing to understand how the robot’s electronics connect together. They assemble the ESP32 controller, ultrasonic distance sensor, power system, voltage regulation, and servo connections while learning how electronic circuits distribute power and control signals throughout a robotic system.
Once the hardware is complete, pupils begin programming the robot using RobiumCode, a visual block-based coding environment designed to make robotics programming accessible and engaging. Through drag-and-drop programming blocks, pupils create movement sequences, walking patterns, and sensor-based behaviours. They learn how timing, smooth servo transitions, and coordinated motion affect the robot’s stability and movement.
As pupils experiment with different movement patterns, they discover how robots balance themselves, transfer weight between legs, and use sensors to make decisions. Using the ultrasonic sensor, the robot can detect nearby objects and automatically move forward, stop, or reverse depending on the distance to obstacles or a user’s hand.
The project combines electronics, mechanics, embedded programming, power systems, and robotic motion control into one complete autonomous robot. Rather than simply assembling a kit, pupils gain practical engineering experience by debugging movement, tuning walking behaviour, and improving the robot’s performance through experimentation and programming.
At the end of the camp, each pupil takes their walking hexapod robot home to continue experimenting, modifying movement behaviours, improving the walking gait, and developing new autonomous features for their robot.
That is a take-home project!
The Camp Dates and Time
5 days, from 20 Jul'26 - 24 Jul’26
Start at 9.00 until 12.00
Age: from 8 years old (to 11)
Location
Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Parkshot, Richmond TW9 2RE
The closest parking at the Old Deer Park (Extension).
Learning outcomes
- Understand how walking robots move
Pupils learn how coordinated leg movement and body balance allow a multi-legged robot to walk and change direction.
- Explore how servo motors create precise motion
Pupils discover how servo motors can control accurate angular movement and how multiple servos work together in a robotic mechanism.
- Build a complete robotic electronic system
Pupils connect servo motors, an ultrasonic sensor, a microcontroller, power regulation modules, and batteries using a structured wiring diagram.
- Learn how sensors allow robots to react to the environment
Pupils use an ultrasonic distance sensor to detect nearby objects and create simple autonomous behaviours based on sensor input.
- Understand basic robotic gait programming
Using a block-based programming environment, pupils create movement sequences that coordinate multiple motors to generate stable walking motion.
- Discover how timing affects robot movement
Pupils experiment with delays, movement speed, and motion sequences to improve the robot’s balance and walking performance.
- Learn how embedded software controls real hardware
Pupils see how software instructions are translated into physical movement through electronic signals and motor control.
- Develop engineering and problem-solving skills
Pupils test, debug, and refine their robots by adjusting wiring, mechanical alignment, movement timing, and sensor behaviour.
- Gain confidence working with real robotics hardware
By building and programming their own walking robot, pupils experience how electronics, mechanics, sensors, and software combine to create an autonomous robotic system.
There are some requirements exist for the course:
1. You must be confident in using a computer, keyboard and mouse. At the good user level.
2. Know how we save files on a computer, what a file and folders are, etc.
3. Be able to switch between windows in the operating system. Use the keys’ shortcuts.
4. No previous experience with 3D modeling is required
5. No previous experience Robotics is required.