Robotics & Automation Outreach Program (RAOP) at Howard University
The Robotics & Automation Outreach Program (RAOP) is Howard University’s NSF Robert Noyce–funded Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) initiative. The program provides authentic research experiences and classroom-ready professional development in robotics, autonomous systems, and control systems for pre-service and in-service STEM educators through the Autonomous Vehicle, Robotics & Control (AVRC) Laboratory.
Each year, RAOP recruits eight STEM educators for an intensive three-week summer experience that integrates QLabs digital-twin environments with hands-on physical laboratory experimentation using advanced robotics and control platforms. Over the five-year project period, RAOP will serve a total of 40 STEM educators.
Stipend, housing, and travel support are provided for all selected participants during the program. Final stipend amounts and travel arrangements are confirmed in the official award letter issued for each cohort.
Next application window: March 1 – April 1.
Program Structure
Each annual RAOP cycle follows the same structure. The same four core experiments are offered every year so that each new cohort of educators can build experience with well-tested, classroom-ready modules while the project team continuously refines materials based on feedback and assessment data.
- Weeks 1–2 (Virtual – QLabs Digital Twins): Educators join one of four experiment groups and work in QLabs virtual environments. Activities include guided inquiry-based labs, weekly synchronous sessions with the RAOP team, and supported curriculum development time.
- Week 3 (On-site – AVRC Lab at Howard University): The same groups transition to the physical platforms in the AVRC Laboratory. Sessions focus on experimental validation, lesson planning, and assessment design using tools such as EDAT, TOSLS, and CLASS.
- Continuous Improvement: After each cycle, feedback from participants, training assistants, and the advisory committee is analyzed to refine the next year’s activities, curriculum, and assessment instruments.
Annual Experiments and Groups
Each year, eight educators are divided into four groups (approximately two educators per group). The same four experiments are run every cycle so that materials, rubrics, and lesson plans can be iteratively improved and archived for broader use.
Experiment 1 – Control Fundamentals (Qube-Servo 3) – Group 1▶
This module introduces fundamental concepts in modeling, feedback control, stability, and performance using the Qube-Servo 3 platform. Educators design and test proportional and state-feedback controllers, compare simulation and experiment, and discuss how to adapt these concepts for high school physics and engineering courses.
Experiment 2 – Attitude Control and Dynamics (Aero 2) – Group 2▶
Using the Aero 2 helicopter-style platform, participants explore rotational dynamics, multi-input multi-output control, and trajectory tracking. The module emphasizes building intuition for linearization, decoupling, and robustness and translating these ideas into accessible classroom demonstrations.
Experiment 3 – Manipulation and Sensing (QArm) – Group 3▶
The QArm module focuses on kinematics, inverse kinematics, sensing, and basic perception for pick-and-place tasks. Educators implement simple automation routines, reason about coordinate frames, and consider how to connect robotics activities with algebra, geometry, and computer science curricula.
Experiment 4 – Ground Autonomy and Navigation (QBot Platform) – Group 4▶
The QBot module introduces mobile robotics, path following, and basic autonomy. Participants work with virtual and physical QBot platforms to implement sensor-based navigation and analyze how localization, mapping, and control interact. Lesson plans emphasize connections to coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and introductory programming.
Professional Development, Curriculum, and Assessment
RAOP is structured as a coherent professional development sequence that links authentic research-style experiences with concrete classroom products.
- Guided Inquiry-Based Learning: Experiments are framed as inquiry-based labs in which educators pose questions, analyze data, and justify evidence-based conclusions before considering how to adapt the same structure for their students.
- Curriculum Products: Each educator develops one or more classroom activities, lesson plans, or mini-units aligned with their chosen experiment. These materials are collected in a shared RAOP repository for future cohorts.
- Assessment Framework: The project uses the Experimental Design Ability Test (EDAT), Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS), and Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) to study changes in participants’ experimental design skills, scientific literacy, and attitudes toward inquiry-based learning.
- Feedback Loop: Survey responses, debrief sessions, and advisory board reviews are used to refine instructions, rubrics, and support materials for the following cycle.
Resources, Lab Procedures, and Technical Support
RAOP participants receive access to a structured set of folders and online resources. These are organized so that educators, students, and advisory committee members can quickly locate the information they need.
Program Folders
- Virtual lab guides and QLabs project files for each experiment.
- Physical lab procedures and safety checklists for the AVRC Lab.
- Curriculum templates, sample lesson plans, and assessment rubrics.
- Recorded PD sessions and short how-to videos for key tools.
External Links
- AVRC Lab information and facilities overview (this website’s Facilities page).
- Quanser GitHub organization: github.com/quanser.
- Quanser Academic Resources repository: Quanser_Academic_Resources.
- QLabs information and support (access provided to selected participants through Howard University’s license).
Application Process and Annual Timeline
RAOP runs once per year. The program website and application portal are refreshed each cycle with updated dates and materials, but the overall schedule follows the pattern below.
Key Dates (Typical Year)
- February 1: Program announcement and website launch for the new cycle.
- March 1 – April 1: Online application window for educators.
- May 1: Notification of selection decisions and confirmation of participation.
- July (first Monday after July 4): Start of two-week virtual phase.
- Following Monday: One-week on-site AVRC Lab experience at Howard University.
How to Apply
- Review the program description, expectations, and sample experiments on this page.
- Prepare a short statement of interest describing your teaching context and how you plan to integrate robotics or automation into your courses.
- Submit the online application form (link provided on the RAOP website when the cycle opens).
- If selected, complete the participant agreement and travel information form sent by the project team.
The “Apply to RAOP” button at the top of this page scrolls to this section when the application window is open. When an external application form is available (e.g., Qualtrics or NSF portal), the button can easily be updated to link directly to that URL.
Project Team
RAOP is led by an interdisciplinary team from Howard University’s College of Engineering and Architecture and School of Education.
- PI – Dr. Fadel Lashhab, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Director of the Autonomous Vehicle, Robotics & Control (AVRC) Laboratory.
- Co-PI – Dr. Katherine Picho, expert in educational psychology and program evaluation, leading assessment design and analysis.
- Co-PI – Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, specialist in cyber-physical systems and networking, leading virtual lab integration and teacher support.
- Graduate and Undergraduate Training Assistants, who support virtual and physical labs, help maintain equipment, and provide near-peer guidance to participants.
- External Advisory Committee, which meets twice per year to review progress, provide feedback on research and educational outcomes, and advise on sustainability.
Contact
For questions about eligibility, application details, or collaboration opportunities, please contact the PI:
Dr. Fadel Lashhab – fadel.lashhab@howard.edu