Hexapod robot. Advanced classes

Description

In this hands-on robotics project, pupils build and program their own autonomous walking hexapod robot using an ESP32 microcontroller and Arduino C programming. The robot uses multiple servo motors and an ultrasonic distance sensor to create a walking machine capable of moving forward, reversing, and reacting to nearby objects. By the end of the camp, every participant takes home a fully working robot that they assembled, wired, programmed, and tested themselves.

The project introduces pupils to real robotics engineering concepts used in autonomous machines and research robots. Pupils learn how servo motors generate precise mechanical movement, how walking gaits are created through coordinated motion, and how sensors allow robots to respond to their surroundings. The robot uses paired MG90S servo motors to control body tilt and leg movement, demonstrating how complex movement can be achieved through carefully timed motion sequences.

Before programming begins, pupils design the robot’s wiring diagram in Fritzing to understand how the electronic system is connected together. They assemble the ESP32 controller, servo motors, ultrasonic sensor, power regulation modules, and lithium-ion battery system while learning how power distribution and signal control work in embedded robotics systems.

Unlike beginner block-based projects, pupils program the robot directly in Arduino C using the Arduino IDE. They write real embedded code to control servo movement, generate smooth transitions between positions, and coordinate the walking gait. Through programming exercises, pupils learn how variables, functions, timing, loops, and sensor input are used to create autonomous robotic behaviour.

As pupils develop the robot’s walking algorithm, they experiment with movement speed, balance, timing, and gait stability. They learn how changing servo positions and movement timing affects the robot’s ability to walk smoothly and maintain stability. Using the ultrasonic sensor, pupils program the robot to react dynamically to nearby objects and follow a user’s hand by moving forward, stopping, or reversing depending on measured distance.

The project combines electronics, mechanics, embedded systems, sensor integration, and software engineering into one complete robotics platform. Pupils gain practical experience debugging real hardware, tuning mechanical movement, analysing sensor behaviour, and improving robot performance through iterative testing and programming.

Rather than simply assembling a kit, pupils experience the full engineering workflow behind a real robotic system: wiring hardware, writing embedded software, testing movement, diagnosing problems, and refining the final behaviour of the robot.

At the end of the camp, each pupil takes their autonomous walking hexapod robot home to continue experimenting with Arduino programming, developing new behaviours, improving the walking gait, and extending the robot with additional sensors and features.