Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics

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Registration Details:

Explore the Program

  • Program Dates: June 14 - 19, 2026
  • Cost: $1,840
  • Eligibility: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • Tuition Includes: Lodging, meals, course materials, activities, and excursions
  • Housing & Dining: 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 here to view our cancellation policy.
  • Enrollment: Open until all spaces are filled
  • Registration: Registration is through the Camp Doc platform. Detailed step-by-step registration instructions are available here.

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:  Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechatronics
  • Understanding how mechanical systems, electronics, and programming come together to create functional robots

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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

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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

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Sample Schedule:

Morning8 a.m. – Breakfast
9 a.m. – TBD
12 p.m. – Lunch & free time
Afternoon1 p.m. – TBD
Evening5 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
Topics and schedules are subject to change

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.