Courses
What Do We Teach Young People?
At the Adelaide Robotics and Computer Science Academy (ARCSA), we believe in fostering creativity and innovation through engaging, hands-on projects. We aim to introduce children to the exciting world of robotics and AI while helping them make new friends and acquire new skills. With our STEM programs, children can program robots and work on cutting-edge AI technology while having a blast. Many of our students consider the Robotics class the highlight of their week!
Computers are an integral part of our daily lives, and Robotics and AI provide a friendly and accessible entry point into the world of programming. With our simple and user-friendly robots, children can learn how to program and see the real-world impact of their code. By building and programming robots, children are given a hands-on understanding of how the virtual world of computers interacts with the physical world. This exposure to the connection between code and reality helps to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of technology in children.
Science
The heart of Robotics lies in Science. At our academy, we bring to life the science behind how robots function and demonstrate scientific concepts such as electricity, solar power, and photovoltaics. Our hands-on approach allows students to experience physics theories like force and tension as they program robots to perform tasks. By constructing robots and observing how various materials impact their performance, children are introduced to the fundamental principles of science – observation and experimentation. This way, we aim to instil a lifelong love of science and technology in our students.
Technology
The use of technology in STEM projects is a crucial aspect of modern education and research. With the rise of digital tools and platforms, students and researchers can access various information and resources, facilitating collaboration and innovation. Through technology, students can engage in hands-on learning experiences, gain access to cutting-edge equipment and simulations, and explore real-world applications of STEM concepts. Technology also enables sharing of ideas and resources globally, breaking down geographical and cultural barriers to collaboration and progress. With the continued integration of technology into STEM education and research, we expect to see an even greater acceleration of innovation and discovery in the future.
Engineering
Engineers are behind the creation of everything from automobiles to urban infrastructure, and Robotics provides a unique and accessible way for children to explore the field of engineering. By participating in hands-on robot-building activities, children can experience the thrill of engineering firsthand and gain a tangible reward for their efforts in the form of a functioning robot. This provides a fun and exciting way for children to learn about engineering and helps to cultivate a lifelong interest in STEM fields.
Maths
Mathematics is a fundamental aspect of STEM and is crucial in many STEM projects and applications. From physics and engineering to computer science and data analysis, mathematical concepts and techniques are central to solving complex problems and advancing in various fields. Math is used to model and understand real-world systems, analyse data, draw conclusions, and design and test theories and hypotheses. In STEM projects, students can apply mathematical skills and concepts to understand and explore real-world issues, such as predicting weather patterns, designing efficient energy systems, and modelling the spread of disease. By incorporating mathematical principles and techniques, STEM projects provide students with an understanding of the power and utility of mathematics and its critical role in advancing science and technology.
Course Structure
What you will study
In our groundbreaking new course, we blend the intricacies of robotics with the dynamic field of programmable drone technology, offering students a unique opportunity to dive into two of the most cutting-edge areas in modern technology. The Robotics and Drones Course is designed for those passionate about exploring the realms of programmable machines, both on the ground and in the air.
This comprehensive program combines the best of both worlds: the well-established Robotics Course based on the Carnegie Mellon University Curriculum and the innovative Drones Syllabus. By integrating these two curriculums, we provide students with a holistic learning experience that encompasses the fundamentals of robotics and programming and extends to the exciting applications of drones in various industries.
Admission to the Computer Science Course is available through two pathways: graduation from the Robotics and Drones Course or passing a test demonstrating a solid understanding of an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language like Python. The test can be taken by request from Monday to Friday after 6 pm.
The curriculum for the CS course is designed to prepare students for university-level studies. Advanced students in this Module explore programming robots and drones using Python, JavaScript, Node-RED, and OpenCV. They tackle complex challenges through scenarios emphasising innovation, adaptability, and teamwork, such as working as part of a crisis management team to respond to simulated natural disasters like floods and bushfires.
The course also covers Project Management and Disaster Resilience by simulating missions such as Mars exploration or delivering supplies to remote areas. Students will also be able to engage in a war room strategy game, which requires strategic planning and campaign launch.
In this Module of the advanced course, students focus on learning Computer Vision using OpenCV and applying this knowledge to practical projects. This includes creating a document scanner, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) system, filters for social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, a virtual mouse and painter, a money counter, a barcode/QR code scanner, an intrusion detection system, digital signatures, ArUco markers, gesture-based volume control, and more.
In this level of the Advanced program, students are introduced to Machine Learning and engage in various hands-on projects. These include developing systems for face recognition, intelligent body monitoring, dashcam applications, detecting drowsy drivers and lane deviations for vehicles, an attendance management system, people counting, and surveillance and security systems. Additionally, they will learn how to use single and multiple linear and polynomial regression techniques to train AI models for various purposes, such as predicting data like COVID-19, classifying waste, recognising faces, and more.
In this Module of the Advanced program, students advance their knowledge of Deep Learning using PyTorch, TensorFlow, and NumPy. They delve into the study of neural networks and apply this knowledge to practical projects, such as building an X-ray analyser, obstacle avoidance systems for cars, and AI personal gym trainers.
In this Module, the students begin deploying real-world Computer Vision solutions to the web. Despite the capability of developers to create impressive computer vision projects, many cannot convert them into commercially viable products due to a lack of appealing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). To address this, the curriculum includes instruction in web development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, equipping students with the skills to create web applications.
At this stage, the students will further their understanding of practical design principles and user experience, allowing them to create user-friendly applications that perform well. They will also be introduced to the most recent tools and techniques for capturing, processing, and analysing visual data.
The students will work on practical solutions with commercial potentials, such as virtual clothing measurement tools, retail traffic counters, custom object detection systems (e.g. for detecting suspicious luggage or weapons), AR virtual glasses try-on applications, car counters, customer engagement systems that measure facial emotions, license plate recognition systems, OCR (optical character recognition) for text extraction, face mask detectors, personal protective equipment (PPE) detection systems, drowsiness detection systems, intruder detectors, face attendance systems, blink counters, automatic grading systems for multiple choice questions (MCQs), and more.
In this Module, the students develop AI bots for educational purposes. They learn how to use Bag of Words, Word2Vec, RNNs, LSTMs, Neural Machine Translation, Attention Mechanisms, Transformers, GPT Models, Nano GPT, and advanced GPT customisations to create complex projects.
This course is specially designed to bridge the gap between our students’ passion for technology and the essential knowledge required to protect it. In our increasingly connected world, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. As we dive deeper into the realms of digital innovation and automation, the need to safeguard our creations, personal data, and digital infrastructure becomes paramount. Cyber threats are evolving at a rapid pace, making cybersecurity skills essential for anyone in the tech field.
NDIS
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to use NDIS funding to pay for our courses if your child care plan goals are improving executive function, developing fine motor skills, and developing social skills through group work. After paying the invoice, you can ask NDIS to reimburse your costs. As it is a group activity, you may use the Capacity budget, but NDIS has also allowed the Core budget to be used when the capacity budget has been exhausted. Please note that our courses are NDIS approved, and you can generally claim on a case-by-case basis. However, we are not an NDIS Registered provider as an organisation, so approval is not automatic.
Robotic Revolution, Human Evolution!
Pioneering the Future, One Algorithm at a Time!
