Where Curiosity Meets Technology: Students Dive Into Robotics, AI & Sensors

From coding their first programs to building robotic projects, middle school students explored the world of technology during the Robotics, AI & Sensors camp hosted by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and taught by Assistant Professor Dr. Pablo Rangel. The week introduced students to programming, sensors, and robotics through hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and innovation. 

Throughout the camp, the students worked with Arduino microcontrollers, ultrasonic sensors, wiring systems, and coding languages such as Python and C++. For seventh grader Matthew Cabrera Escondel, the most exciting part was seeing his code come to life through robotics. 

“My favorite activity was probably playing with the Arduino and making servo motors go off with ultrasonic sensors,” Escondel said. “If you program it right, it can make other stuff spin and make LEDs turn on. I thought it was the most fun.” 

As he built and experimented, Escondel also began to see how these skills extend beyond the classroom. 

“It can help you repair stuff you have, especially robotic stuff,” Escondel explained. “If you have something like a Roomba and it breaks, you can figure out how to rewire it.” 

For fellow camper Zina Mbadugha, the experience was just as transformative, opening new doors to technology and boosting her confidence in working with electronics. 

“My favorite activity was working with the Arduino because I got to code with C++, which is a language I don’t really use a lot,” Mbadugha said. “In the past, I thought I wasn’t really good with electronics, but I’ve learned how to work with them more and troubleshoot.” 

Although Mbadugha hopes to pursue a career in medicine, the camp helped her see how deeply interconnected technology is with all fields — especially in today’s rapidly evolving world. 

“Knowing how to work with tech, engineering, and programming can be so helpful, especially in our world of AI,” Mbadugha said. “Being at the creating end of our ever-changing world is going to be a big advantage in the future.” 

The impact of the camp also extended to the university students serving as mentors. Biomedical sciences senior Aleena Roy ’26 found meaning in guiding students through challenges and watching their breakthroughs unfold. 

“Seeing their eyes light up whenever they figure something out after multiple tries of debugging is really exciting,” Roy said. “It makes me hopeful for the future.” 

For Roy, mentoring also reinforced her own learning and passion for STEM education. 

“I think the best way to really learn is to teach,” Roy added. “I got to solidify a lot of the skills I learned over time by helping out the students here.” 

Through hands-on exploration, mentorship, and discovery, the Robotics, AI & Sensors camp gave students a glimpse into what’s possible when curiosity meets technology — and encouraged them to see themselves as future engineers, scientists, and innovators.