Educating for the Future: Engaging Students with Robotics and Intelligent Machines

This paper presents a specialized course developed by the Università Politecnica delle Marche to introduce secondary school students to robotics and intelligent machines. In response to national initiatives under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) aimed at improving career guidance in the transition from school to university, the course engaged students aged 16-18 in both theoretical and practical sessions. The course, titled "Robotica al servizio dell'uomo," covered foundational topics in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), including the programming of robotic systems and their applications. A key component was a visit to the university's robotics laboratories, where students participated in hands-on activities and acquired insight into university life and academic opportunities.