The TrackBot Explorer. Arduino C edition. The Evening Set
VAT inc
Available for: 11+ years old
5 days, 16 - 20 Feb’26
From 12.30 until 15.40
The TrackBot Explorer is a fun and educational DIY robotics project designed for children aged 11 and up. In this project, kids build a tracked robot powered by an ESP32 WROOM controller and a DRV8833 motor driver, using two motors and two durable tracks. Part of the robot’s structure is created with Technic-style blocks, encouraging creativity and hands-on mechanical thinking.
The robot is wirelessly controlled via Bluetooth using a smart control ring with five buttons: forward, backward, left, right, and stop, making it intuitive and exciting to drive.
This project takes place during a half-term break robotics camp, where children assemble the robot, learn to read basic electronic schematics, and program its behavior using Arduino C programming language. After the camp, each participant takes their own TrackBot Explorer home to continue exploring and learning.
That is take home project!
The Camp Dates and Time
5 days, from 16 - 20 Feb’26
Start at 12.30 until 15.40
Age: from 11 years old
Location
Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Parkshot, Richmond TW9 2RE
The closest parking at the Old Deer Park (Extension).
The learning outcomes
- Explore real differential steering mechanics in depth.
- Assemble and align gears, axles, and motors for optimal performance.
- Understand H-bridge motor control and PWM speed regulation.
- Write Arduino C code to control motors and handle BlueTooth communication.
- Develop logic for steering and speed management.
- Build and document a full wiring diagram in Fritzing.
- Test, debug, and refine both hardware and software.
- Take home a fully functioning, custom-coded car.
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 in Robotics is required.
6. You want to program robots and are not afraid to struggle with the difficulties of learning them.
7. Minimum previous experience with text-based programming is required. Ideally, you are able to make a program that performs basic maths operations with numbers. The programming language itself is not important.