Hands-On Robotics: Precision Pick-and-Place Challenge
SO-101 Robotic Arm holding a red cube.Copyright Picture taken at the CU-ICAR Auto/AI Lab, Clemson University during robot testing.
This activity introduces students to the real-world challenges robotic systems face in modern warehouses, where machines must sort thousands of items accurately, safely, and efficiently. Students explore core concepts such as joint motion, coordinate systems, sensing, and basic programming logic to understand how robots move and make decisions. Thinking like robotic engineers, students then work in teams to program the SO-101 robotic arm to complete a pick-and-place challenge, moving objects from a pickup area to specific sorting bins based on color or size.
Robotics engineers design, build, and program robots that can perform tasks safely, accurately, and efficiently. They combine knowledge of mechanical systems, electronics, sensors, and computer programming to create machines that can sense their environment and respond with the right movements. Robotics engineers often work on automated systems—such as robotic arms used for sorting, assembly, or surgery—by developing the hardware and writing the software that controls each step. Their work helps solve real-world problems in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, space exploration, and everyday consumer technology.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Program a robotic arm to perform a precise pick-and-place task using coordinate-based or block-style coding.
- Collaborate with peers to troubleshoot, refine, and optimize robotic movement sequences for accuracy and speed.
- Apply real-world engineering design practices to model an automated sorting system based on criteria such as object size or color.