2026-07-23

The National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) continues to promote artificial intelligence (AI) and technology education at the primary and secondary school levels. Following the Basic Line-Following Autonomous Vehicle Workshop held at Nan-An Elementary School in Mituo District on July 3, NUK organized the AI Infrared Line-Following Autonomous Vehicle Camp at Keliao Junior High School in Ziguan District from July 20 to 22.

The camps guided elementary and junior high school students through every stage of building an autonomous vehicle—from chassis assembly and programming to navigating three-dimensional racing tracks—allowing participants to experience the practical applications of intelligent robotics and AI technologies firsthand.

The two camps specifically served schools located along Taiwan Provincial Highway 17 in so-called “non-mountain, non-urban” areas—communities situated between metropolitan and rural regions that often receive fewer educational resources. Through university expertise and hands-on learning, NUK hopes to narrow the technology education gap while cultivating students' digital literacy and problem-solving skills for the future.

Professor Chin-Chung Yu, Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Director of NUK’s Science Education Center, explained that while AI technologies are advancing rapidly, educational disparities are not limited to remote rural areas. Many schools located on the urban–rural fringe also have relatively limited access to emerging technologies.

To address this need, the Science Education Center planned the Highway 17 AI autonomous vehicle series during the summer vacation, bringing courses first to Nan-An Elementary School and then to Keliao Junior High School. Through professional instruction and project-based learning, students learned AI concepts, computer programming, and intelligent robotics while strengthening logical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, putting the university's commitment to University Social Responsibility (USR) into practice by bringing technology education to communities where it is most needed.

Professor Yu noted that the program was organized by the National Taiwan Science Education Center, supported by funding from the Tatung Education Foundation, and implemented by NUK’s Science Education Center, which was responsible for curriculum design and camp operations in southern Taiwan.

Looking ahead, the center will continue collaborating with universities, primary and secondary schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to expand AI and science education partnerships, ensuring that access to technology education is not limited by geography. The initiative aims to accompany more young learners as they discover their interests through exploration and hands-on practice while developing the core competencies needed in the age of intelligent technology.

Learning AI through Hands-On Autonomous Vehicle Design

The series centered on the theme of Artificial Intelligence and Line-Following Autonomous Vehicles. Students first learned about vehicle structure, development environments, and programming fundamentals before exploring how autonomous vehicles use sensors to detect environmental information and control motors and steering through software.

The curriculum also introduced AI-assisted code generation tools, allowing students to use natural language prompts to help generate programming code. With guidance from instructors and teaching assistants, participants focused on understanding programming logic rather than simply copying code, making programming more accessible while increasing learning motivation.

From Basic Assembly to Advanced AI Control

The Nan-An Elementary School program focused on building foundational skills. Students assembled their own autonomous vehicles, learned motor control, tested infrared sensors, and completed two-dimensional line-following exercises.

The Keliao Junior High School camp introduced more advanced concepts, including ultrasonic sensors, the integration of five infrared sensors, and PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative) control algorithms. Students then applied these technologies in a challenging three-dimensional line-following competition.

Throughout the activities, participants repeatedly observed vehicle performance, adjusted sensor values, refined program parameters, and debugged their systems through trial and error. By successfully completing the line-following challenges, students experienced the satisfaction of integrating AI tools with hardware design while developing engineering problem-solving skills.

Innovation through Observation, Experimentation, and Improvement

At Nan-An Elementary School, students worked in pairs to calibrate sensor values and adjust the speed of the left and right motors. From assembly and testing to troubleshooting, they gradually built autonomous vehicles capable of independently following designated paths.

At Keliao Junior High School, students faced the additional challenge of navigating an elevated three-dimensional course. They continuously refined their programming and control parameters to adapt to slopes and uneven terrain. Each successful completion of the course was met with enthusiastic cheers, reinforcing the understanding that technological innovation emerges through repeated observation, experimentation, and improvement—not through a single correct answer.

By combining AI-assisted programming tools with practical hardware implementation, the camps transformed abstract programming concepts into visible and rewarding learning experiences, opening new pathways for students to explore intelligent technologies and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

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@Department of Applied Physics · Science Education Center | Activities