Mechatronics Resources for K-12 Teachers, Scouting, 4-H, and others

Mechatronics is a great way for children and young adults to learn about coding and engineering design. Scouting and 4-H programs have robotics and engineering badges and competitions. However, the resources to get started can be a challenge. On this page, I will highlight resources that can be used to learn about mechatronics and do hands-on projects. Many of these resources were developed by University of Kansas Mechanical Engineering students. Below are links to 4-H and scouting websites for details on badges and competitions.

Instructional Resources

The following links are instructional videos created by Dr. Wilson. These are intended to help those who would like to learn how to program Arduino microcontrollers for their scouting and 4-H projects.

In addition, resources are provided using the Groove Beginner Kit for teachers interested in an easy entry into using mechatronics in their classroom. Lesson plans are currently being developed to support middle school science standards.

Arduino Instructional Videos

Arduino Based Robotics Projects

The following are project instructions created by students in ME 208, ME 608, and ME 708 that could be used as models for Arduino-based robotics projects. The projects are shared on the I nstructables website, which is a rich source for robotics and other projects.

ME 208 Arduino Projects

ME 608/708 Robotic Car Projects

ME 608/708 Other Arduino Projects

Other Useful Sites

Below are links to other web resources that can be useful for learning mechatronics. Arduino is the original manufacturer of the Arduino-style boards and provides free software that be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. Arduino-style boards are open-hardware and can be purchased from several different vendors. Tinkercad is a free site that allows users to work virtually on circuits and code. In it, one can simulate basic Arduino code and see how a system might behave. It allows both personal accounts and accounts set up for a classroom. Sparkfun is a company that sells Arduino-style boards as well as many sensors and motors that one might use. Additionally, they have a number of educational videos. Dr. Carlotta Berry has a number of educational materials including a video series on robotics engineering. Rocket Ron (Dr. Ron Barrett-Gonzalez) is another University of Kansas engineering professor with fun activities related to aerospace engineering. Other resources here may also help in teaching engineering concepts to kids.