2026 Vanier Campus Robotics & Engineering Open Class

 

For Secondary 1–4 Students & Parents

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Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026Time: 1:00 PM

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Location:

Vanier College –

Building A, Room B502&B503,  821 Sainte-Croix Ave, Montréal, QC

 

Open Class for Students

 

This open class introduces Secondary 1–4 students to the progression from Educational Robotics to Robotics Engineering, with an overview of the technologies, engineering skills, and competition pathways students can explore as they advance.

 

Students will be introduced to:

 

• Educational Robotics Platforms – including LEGO SPIKE Prime and other robotics platforms

• Robotics Competitions – introduction to WRO, Zone01, and other robotics and innovation competitions

• Programming – from basic coding and robot control to more advanced programming

• Mechanical & Structural Design – from educational building systems to open-source engineering structures

• Electronics & Control Systems – motors, sensors, controllers, and system integration

• CAD & 3D Printing – designing and fabricating custom robotic components

• Open-Source Robotics – working with real engineering components and open-source hardware/softwareComputer Vision & AI – introduction to OpenCV, vision-based robot control, and AI applications in robotics

• Advanced Robotics Engineering – integrating mechanical, electrical, programming, and AI technologies into complete robotic systems

 

The session will also introduce students to different pathways in competition robotics, engineering design, and innovation projects, helping them understand how robotics can progress from an educational activity into advanced engineering.

 

Presentation for Parents

 

While students participate in the open class, parents will receive an introduction to the broader robotics education pathway in Canada, including:

 

• Robotics education from Secondary School to University

• Major robotics competitions and innovation programs in Canada

• ORC students' competition experience and achievements

• How students can progress from educational robotics to competition robotics, open-source engineering, AI, and innovationLearning pathway design for students at different ages and experience levels

• The role of robotics in developing engineering thinking, programming, problem-solving, teamwork, and project experience

• Introduction to robotics-related university fields, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, Robotics and AI

• How different competition pathways—such as WRO RoboMission, WRO Future Innovators, and FTC—provide different engineering and innovation experiences