Hands-On Technology: Students Build Their Own Otto Robot

From February 18 to 20, 2025, the Schülerinnen-Projekttage took place at TU Darmstadt. The goal of the event was to introduce participants to the world of electrical engineering in a hands-on way – and what could be more motivating than building a robot yourself?

At the heart of the project was the Otto robot, a small, freely programmable walking robot whose open-source design provides an ideal foundation for first steps in robotics and electronics. Over three days, the students engaged intensively with assembling, wiring, and programming their own robots.

Support from Dedicated Students

Under the guidance of Sören Soennecken , Julian Seiler , Mark Suppelt , Sonja Wismath , and with the support of three student assistants, the participants received continuous assistance throughout the project days. The additional support from students was particularly valuable, as they not only provided technical help but also shared their enthusiasm for electrical engineering.

From Theory to Practice

The students not only learned technical fundamentals but also had the opportunity to customize their robots and implement their first programming tasks. At the end of the project days, they proudly presented their fully functional Otto robots, which could walk, dance, or avoid obstacles on command.

Inspiring a Passion for Technology

The Schülerinnen-Projekttage were organized by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (etit) and impressively demonstrated how hands-on experiments can spark interest in technical degree programs. The successful implementation of this year’s event reaffirms the importance of giving young women early access to technical subjects and inspiring them to pursue studies in STEM fields.

We look forward to welcoming many motivated students again next year!