High schoolers will have high-tech fun
at 5-day summer college experience
All around the world, the dream of self-driving cars is swiftly becoming reality — and the University of Delaware Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) is inviting high school students to be part of that high-speed journey.
Applications are open for the new Autonomous Driving Academy Pre-College Summer Program, designed to give young scientists experience with the complex computer programs that serve as the brains of driverless cars.
Students who enroll in the academy won’t be driving or riding in actual vehicles, but they will enjoy plenty of high-tech, hands-on challenges and fast-moving fun. Working with instructors from UD’s renowned Connected and Autonomous Research Laboratory (CAR Lab), the teens will work in teams to build a sensor-packed car model, then create software capable of maneuvering it through an obstacle course on UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.
The course covers such essential high-tech topics as vehicle control fundamentals, sensor technology and the programming tools vital for autonomous systems. Along with technical skills, students will gain valuable experience in critical thinking, teamwork and presentation abilities.
“It’s a great fit for the many high school students who are already involved in robotics, or who have interest and experience in coding,” said Shana Washington, program coordinator at UD PCS. “This is a chance for them to take their computer science skills to the next level.”
The CAR Lab’s status as a cutting-edge programming research center could ultimately provide a boost to participants’ college applications and even broaden their career potential, organizers say. Each student who completes the July 14-18 nonresidential program will receive a personalized reference letter, along with a digital badge to display on social media or their online profiles.
“There’s a huge shortage in the workforce as the auto industry is transforming from traditional transportation into the new vehicle computing paradigm across the United States and globally,” said Weisong Shi, an expert in autonomous vehicles who is chair of UD’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences, leader of the CAR Lab and an alumni distinguished professor. “We need to get the next generation of this workforce started from the beginning.”
The program provides the kind of experience that could inspire teens to continue their education at UD, making it an important new “pipeline” for future Blue Hens. “We see this program as another powerful way to demonstrate the potential of a UD degree, much like the highly successful Forensic Science Pre-College Summer Program that UD PCS launched last year,” said Vic Wang, director of noncredit professional programs.
The Autonomous Driving Academy is open to select high school students, but even highly qualified middle schoolers are encouraged to apply. Candidates are required to submit a 250-word essay and meet course prerequisite requirements, including experience in robotics, proficiency in Python and some knowledge of coding in C++.
“They need to really work hard in this program to succeed at it,” said Ren Zhong, a visiting doctoral student at the lab who will help teach the course.
Steppingstone to a bright future
The course’s creators see it as a steppingstone for those aspiring to careers in automotive technology, robotics or related fields. Participants will get hands-on experience and professional insights into the latest industry advancements, thanks to the CAR Lab’s position at the forefront of the technology — the lab is sponsored by GM, Toyota and other major automotive players.
“A new era is coming. People don’t yet realize how transformative this will be,” Shi said.
Even before the program was conceived, Shi had been enlisting savvy high school students to work in his lab, and he has been impressed: Two of them went on to get their degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a student from Delaware’s Tower Hill School has been admitted to the University of Pennsylvania.
“We have seen that there is strong demand from high school students for this kind of program, and they are very capable,” Shi said.
Shi has tapped some of his top graduate students to teach the course, including Zhong and William He, a fourth-year computer science doctoral student.
On the final day, students will load their cars with the algorithms they have written, then compete for bragging rights on a temporary STAR Campus course. The teams will contend with such simulated real-world driving challenges as road boundaries, construction zones and wayward pedestrians.
“After the students finish, the goal is to have them competent enough so that they can build their own autonomous scooter or robot,” said He, who is writing an introductory-level textbook about autonomous driving with Shi. “They should also be confident enough to use this summer camp experience as a major plus on their applications for college internships or even for jobs at places like Tesla or Waymo.”
On-campus housing is not provided, but participants who need overnight stays can reserve rooms at the Hyatt Place Newark/Main Street at a special group rate. Though the application deadline is not until June 13, a 10% discount is available for registrations received by May 15. Partial scholarships and other discounts are offered as well.
“We want to be able to offset costs for students who may not have the full funding for this,” Washington said.
For more information, visit the Autonomous Driving Academy Pre-College Program web page.
