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, we use the construction set "Tesla.Kilobit". The construction set includes a set of electronic circuit elements and the book - a student's guide to assembling 20 experiments. 20 lessons of this stage are conducted according to this book - students perform the experiments described in it. But the first three lessons are introductory and are aimed at giving children the basic concepts of electronics, studying Ohm’s law, and confirming it experimentally. And after that, the guys begin the extended tasks from the guide.
Elements from the "Tesla.Kilobit" will be used by the children at all subsequent stages.

At this stage, guys assemble three robots:

• a robot finding a way out of a maze;
• bluetooth controlled robot;
• robot controlled using an IR remote control.

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

• 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 soldering iron, hot air gun and 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, programming 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 programmed the robot better.

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.