New programme at DLR_School_Lab: pupils experiment with robots

The pupils at Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium in Cottbus have shown how it's done. In order to present the BTU College 's new robotics programme to school headmasters from the region, they worked with humanoid robots and smart robot dogs in theory and practice. For example with Eddy, a walking robot controlled by Pascal from year 9.

Pascal explains: "Eddy can walk, wave, shake hands and measure its surroundings. He has 23 degrees of freedom and 360-degree vision". The 15-year-old is interested in Mechanical Engineering and was very impressed by the opportunity to experiment with robots in the DLR_School_Lab at the main campus in Cottbus of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU). "I enjoy trying things out and tinkering."

Helpful in the healthcare sector? The humanoid robot Ami

Enya, 17, and Johanna, 16, were also fascinated - by Ami, a humanoid robot that recognises and reacts to human facial expressions and gestures. The two of them enjoyed familiarising themselves with the "talking head". Enya: "Ami can not only react contextually, she also has different personalities and facial expressions". Johanna explains what Ami can do for society: "Ami could provide support in care - for example as a neutral dialogue partner when training social skills".

The aim of the new programme: to inspire enthusiasm

From the 2025/26 school year, the DLR_School_Lab at BTU will offer new opportunities to experience robotics in a practical way. School classes can take part in a station operation where small groups can familiarise themselves with various robot models. Alternatively, a robotics module can be chosen as a supplement to the regular experimental programmes - here, the focus is on free, open-ended student research. Pupils who are particularly interested also have the opportunity to get to grips with the Systems in a weekly robotics club.

According to Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Academic Director of the BTU College, the purpose of the programme is to awaken enthusiasm for scientific and technical careers at an early age and prepare the next generation for the digital future. Dr Christoph Pawek, Executive Board Representative for the Promotion of Young Scientists at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), praised the programme as outstanding, as it offers "hands-on research" and is very special because authentic experiments with current references are made possible. "The DLR_School_Lab is the youngest of our labs and has created a programme that is unique in Germany."

Background information on the BTU College

The College of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg was founded in 2013 and is a central scientific institution dedicated to promoting young people in the fields of Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences and Technology (STEM). It pursues a two-pronged strategy: on the one hand, the college is committed to the broad promotion of school pupils and prospective students in order to awaken enthusiasm for scientific and technical topics at an early stage. On the other hand, it offers targeted talent development for high-achieving young people, who receive individual support in in-depth programmes and competition formats. In the area of study preparation and support, the college helps prospective and current students to successfully organise their studies. As an integral part of the BTU's teaching architecture, it accompanies students from initial orientation to individual learning support during their studies.