Robotics Club 001: Launching the Year of Robotics

January 6, 2026 marked the launch of our Robotics Club with a bold declaration: 2026 is the year of robotics. At the NS Library, we gathered a group of hardware enthusiasts, researchers, and curious builders to reconnect with and cultivate their interest in robotics.

Why 2026?

The convergence of affordable hardware, mature open-source software, and growing community resources has created a unique moment. What once required lab equipment and corporate budgets is now accessible to individual builders and small teams.

Session Structure

Our one-hour format balances focus time with community knowledge sharing:

Quick Introduction (5 minutes)

Setting context and forming small working groups of less than five people.

Small Group Work (40 minutes)

With ambient music in the background, groups dove into their chosen focus areas. The intimate group size ensures everyone can contribute and get help when stuck.

Knowledge Sharing (15 minutes)

Groups reconvened to share discoveries, resources, and progress. This is where the magic happens - cross-pollination of ideas between different project areas.

Focus Areas

Participants explored various angles of robotics:

• Project building - Hands-on hardware work
• Research and paper reading - Diving into academic literature
• Writing and documentation - Creating tutorials and blog posts
• AI art - Creative explorations of robotics themes

Resources We Shared

The session introduced several valuable resources:

• FOSSASIA (fossasia.org) - Open source tech organization with robotics projects
• FOSSASIA GitHub - Repository of open-source robotics code
• Awesome Robotics Projects - Curated collection of inspiring builds
• Petoi - Open-source robots designed for research and education

What Made It Special

Unlike conference talks or online tutorials, Robotics Club creates space for hands-on exploration. You're not passively consuming content - you're actively working, with immediate access to a community that can help when you hit obstacles.

Building Momentum

This first session established the foundation for a regular robotics practice. The goal isn't to complete projects in a single hour, but to create a rhythm of consistent engagement with robotics.

By showing up regularly, sharing progress, and learning from each other, we compound our skills over time.

Join the Movement

Whether you're building your first robot or you have years of experience, there's a place for you in Robotics Club. The only requirement is curiosity and willingness to participate.

2026 is the year to start building robots. Let's make it happen together.