Introduction to the basic concepts and elements of electronic circuits: resistors, LEDs, capacitors, bipolar transistors, etc. Study of their basic functionality and properties. Assembly of electronic circuits using these elements.
At this stage, the construction set "Tesla.Quantum" is used - this is the original development of our company. The construction set includes a set of electronic circuit elements and a booklet - a student's guide to assembling 21 experiments. 21 lessons of this stage are conducted according to the exciting instructions of the young engineer - students perform the experiments described in it.
Elements from the construction set "Tesla.Quantum" will be used by the children at all subsequent stages.

At this stage, guys assemble four BEAM robots. The word BEAM is an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics. BEAM robots use simple analog circuits (such as comparators) instead of microprocessors to achieve an unusually simple (compared to traditional mobile robots) design that sacrifices flexibility for reliability and efficiency in completing a given task.
The four BEAM robots of this stage are:

• light controlled robot;
• security robot;
• robot following the line;
• robot avoiding obstacles.

Young engineers build the robots in the order above. To assemble robots at this stage, the guys purchase the construction set "Tesla.Bit". It includes both mechanical parts: motors, gearboxes, wheels, base, etc., as well as electronic elements and modules for assembling electrical circuits on a breadboard.
At this stage, guys:

• master working with tools: screwdrivers, keys, pliers, hacksaw, tweezers, etc.,
• acquire skills in processing materials (acrylic, wood): drilling, cutting, etc.,
• acquire soldering skills using a low-power (8 W) safe soldering iron, a 220V soldering iron, a hot air gun and a soldering station,
• work with power tools: mini drill (Drimel), drilling machine, sharpening machine,
• perform gluing work using double-sided tape.

Important! Before giving any tool to the children, a conversation is held on safety precautions when working with this tool. All soldering, drilling, turning, etc. work. carried out wearing safety glasses.
After completing the assembly and configuration of each robot, all the guys in the group hold competitions to determine whose robot turned out to be more reliable, fast and efficient, which of the guys learned how to control it better, and who configured the robot better.

At this stage, the guys move on to the third component of robotics - programming. It’s too early to give children of this age Wiring (a C++-like language) right away. It's effective when they start with a simpler SCRATCH-like language - ArduBlock. Programming takes place in an environment that is an extension of the Arduino IDE.
For this stage and the next one, the children will need the construction set "Tesla.Byte". It includes an Arduino UNO board and all the modules required to build a maze-finding robot.
The main idea of this stage is to give the children all the information about the algorithms and language structures necessary to program a robot that finds a way out of the maze. You also need to learn how to work with all the modules of this robot: servo drive, motor driver, ultrasonic range finder.
As a result, competitions are held at a special training ground, built from empty boxes and improvised means. The winner gets a prize.

After learning ArduBlock, the guys are ready to move on to learning a C++ similar language. Because they felt that they were succeeding, that the robot obeyed the program they had written, the guys could no longer be stopped, they gained confidence and were able to learn a more complex language.
In the final part of this stage, young engineers assemble, program and configure a robot controlled using an IR remote control. To do this, you need to mount an IR sensor and learn how to work with libraries.

In order for young engineers to make a part of any shape for their future devices, it is necessary to create a model of this part in a 3D editor. We use Autodesk Fusion 360. It is free to use for educational and non-commercial purposes.
After mastering Fusion 360, young engineers develop skills in creating complex multi-body products. The result is a drawing (dxf file), which can be sent to a CNC machine (milling machine or laser).
At the end of this stage, the teacher issues an individual task for each young engineer to create a model from life in Fusion. For example, volume knob, servo, wheel, etc. A young engineer takes measurements using a caliper and creates a model. Next, it uploads the model to Cura. The teacher talks about the basic settings of Cura, how they affect the print result, the structure and operating principle of the 3D printer. Next, the part is printed according to the model created by the young engineer. The young engineer takes the resulting part as a souvenir.
At this point, the basic course is completed, and the young engineer moves on to the course “Robotics. Project”, where he will be able to work on his own projects.