RAOP
Participant Support
The Robotics and Automation Outreach Program (RAOP) combines financial support, software access, technical assistance, and instructional guidance to help STEM educators participate in research and adapt their learning for their schools. The 2026 cycle included two weeks of virtual work and one week in Howard University’s Autonomous Vehicle, Robotics & Control (AVRC) Laboratory.
Support for Educator Participation
The information below describes the support framework for the first program cycle. Recruitment focuses on Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Educators can contact the RAOP team about support needs and future participation.
Contact the RAOP teamParticipation Stipends
$3,000 budgeted per educator across the virtual and on-site phases.
Software and Preparation
MATLAB, Simulink, Onramp resources, and QLabs preparation.
Laboratory and Teaching Support
Supervised hardware experience, technical assistance, and school integration planning.
Budgeted Financial Support
The project budget provides the following allocations per educator. These amounts describe planned support; individual arrangements and payment procedures are confirmed by the RAOP team.
| Category | Per Educator | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual participation stipend | $1,000 | Participation in the two-week virtual phase. |
| On-site participation stipend | $2,000 | Participation in the one-week laboratory phase at Howard University. |
| Housing support | $2,400 | Accommodation support for eligible non-local educators during the on-site phase. |
| Travel support | $500 | Travel associated with on-site participation, according to the arrangements confirmed for each educator. |
| Combined budget allocation | $5,900 | Includes housing and travel, where applicable. |
Planning Housing, Travel, and Payment
- Confirm housing and travel eligibility and arrangements with the project team before making reservations.
- Complete the required participation and administrative steps communicated during onboarding.
- Follow the provided instructions for documentation, receipts, and payment processing.
MathWorks Software Access
MathWorks approved a STEM Outreach License for MATLAB and Simulink. Access was shared with participants approximately one month before the 2026 program to support early preparation through MATLAB Onramp and Simulink Onramp.
These resources introduce commands, variables, plotting, blocks, signals, and simulation workflows used in the program. Educators received a preparation roadmap and guidance on account access and software setup.
Quanser Platforms and Resources
Quanser is the industrial partner associated with the robotics platforms, QLabs digital twins, technical resources, and instructional support. Educators used virtual environments during preparation and training, followed by supervised physical investigations in the AVRC Laboratory.
Continued software access and use with students depend on the applicable license arrangements. Educators should confirm account availability and permitted classroom use with the RAOP team when planning school activities.
Preparation and Technical Assistance
An onboarding session on June 15, 2026, and a technical follow-up on June 29 supported preparation for the virtual phase. T1 readiness checks documented software access, installation, QLabs preparation, prior experience, and technical support needs.
Before and During Virtual Work
- Guidance on account access, software installation, and activity files.
- Assistance with computer capability and software-permission barriers.
- Support for opening models, collecting observations, and interpreting results.
During the On-Site Week
- Supervised rotations through Qube-Servo 3, Aero 2, QArm, and QBot Platform.
- Faculty, training-assistant, and peer support for troubleshooting and interpretation.
- Laboratory procedures and technical references connecting commands, measurements, and physical responses.
Laboratory Safety Preparation
Review the AVRC safety orientation before hardware work. The laboratory team will explain the applicable platform procedures and how to complete and return the safety acknowledgment. The laboratory is in B20, Mackey Building.
Support for School Integration
The educator guide, platform activities, and technical resources provide a foundation for adapting robotics and automation learning to courses, curriculum units, after-school activities, and clubs. Planning considers student readiness, available equipment, software access, and instructional time.
Educators are encouraged to continue investigating topics from the program and discuss their implementation plans with the RAOP team. Follow-up is planned for October 2026 to document school use, identify barriers, and determine further support needs.
Follow RAOP & stay connected
Program updates, announcements, and educator highlights.
Instagram links to Fadel Lashhab’s profile. Some social platforms may require sign-in.