From April 6 to 10, the Rob9-16 classroom at Técnico’s Oeiras campus was filled with cables, sensors, computers — and plenty of curiosity. Over five days, young participants aged 9 to 16 took part in the “Project X: Autonomy on Wheels” workshop, organised by Rob9-16.

The week began with the basics of programming and electronics. Through simple coding exercises and introductory circuits, participants gradually built the confidence needed for more complex challenges. “We learned how to program and work with Arduino, which is like a mini computer,” explained 13-year-old Silvestre Caetano.

As the days went by, concepts started to take shape. After initial exercises — such as programming traffic lights and solving logic challenges — participants moved on to the most anticipated task: building a robotic car. “First we learned the code and then applied it to the car, which was more complex,” said Maria Carneiro, 15, who saw the activity as an opportunity to explore her interest in engineering.

By combining hardware connections with lines of code, each group assembled its own autonomous vehicle, designed to move and respond to its surroundings. “We had to make sure the car didn’t hit obstacles and could find the best path,” explained 14-year-old Guilherme Moreira.

The programme also included a range of additional activities, from cryptography challenges to digital programming exercises, structural building tasks and lab visits. “I really enjoyed building the car, but also the computer maze activity and the cryptography challenge,” said Margarida Franco, 11, summing up her experience simply: “I liked everything.”

The relaxed and hands-on environment was another highlight. “It’s fun here — it’s not too serious. You can learn and still feel comfortable,” Margarida added.

For the team supporting the workshop, the experience was equally meaningful. Ana Pinto, an Aerospace Engineering student and mentor in this edition, highlighted the importance of early exposure to these areas: “It’s important for them to start early. Many students arrive at university without ever having tried this, and here they gain both a foundation and confidence.”

For some participants, this was a first contact with engineering; for others, a chance to deepen existing interests. “I know I want to pursue something related to robotics, and this helps me understand what I like,” said 13-year-old Sofia Franco, also pointing out the balance between theory and practice throughout the week.

On the final day, all efforts came together in the testing phase. Last-minute adjustments, code fixes and a sense of anticipation set the stage for a mini competition between the vehicles.

“We get to combine learning with experimenting. We’re programming, building and seeing things actually work. That’s what makes it so interesting,” concluded Sofia Franco.