Robotics Education Software | Coding & AI Lessons

Q: What is the best software to teach robotics?

Synthiam ARC and the free ARC-Lite app are designed for robotics education. They use low-code, drag-and-drop programming with Blockly and RoboScratch for beginners, then grow into JavaScript, Python, and AI skills, so one platform serves students from elementary school through university.

Q: How do I teach robotics without a computer science degree?

Start with ARC-Lite's built-in guided lessons and visual Blockly programming. Students drag and drop robot skills and see results immediately, so educators can lead a class without deep coding or robotics expertise. Step-by-step tutorials guide both teachers and students.

Q: What age can students start learning robotics?

Students as young as 5 can begin with visual, block-based programming in ARC-Lite. As they advance, the same platform supports JavaScript, Python, computer vision, and AI, making it suitable through high school, university, and beyond.

Q: Is Synthiam free for schools?

Yes. ARC-Lite is free and includes guided lessons and activities. For advanced courses, schools and clubs can access ARC Pro with volume licensing and grant assistance through Synthiam's schools, clubs and educators program.

Q: What hardware do I need to teach robotics?

You can start with affordable, widely available controllers such as Arduino, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi, or a supported classroom robot. ARC-Lite even runs on phones, tablets, and Chromebooks, so many classrooms can begin with devices they already own.

Why teach robotics?

Robotics is one of the most effective ways to teach computational thinking, engineering, and artificial intelligence, because students see their code move in the real world. The barrier has always been complexity — expensive kits, brittle wiring, and programming environments built for engineers rather than learners.

Synthiam removes that barrier. With the free ARC-Lite app and the ARC and ARCx platforms, students drag, drop, and see their robot respond — building confidence before they write a single line of code, then growing into Blockly, JavaScript, and Python as they advance.

Diverse group of students gathered around a small robot they are building, with a laptop showing drag-and-drop block coding in a bright classroom

Robotics education for every level

Young elementary school children programming a small friendly robot on a tablet with block-based coding

K-12 Classrooms

Free, guided activities teach computational thinking through real robot projects. Students use Blockly and RoboScratch to program robots visually — perfect for ages 5 to 18 with no coding experience.

University students working on an autonomous robot with a camera and robotic arm, laptop showing computer vision and code

Universities & Colleges

Advanced courses use ARC Pro, or ARCx on Linux and Raspberry Pi lab hardware, for computer vision, machine learning, and autonomous navigation. Students apply theory to real hardware — Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, and commercial robot platforms. Engineering programs preparing students for industry can teach with ARCx, the same platform used for commercial robots and industrial PLC automation.

Teenagers in an after-school robotics club building a custom robot from Arduino and Raspberry Pi parts

Clubs, After-School & Home

Robotics clubs, competition teams, and home learners prototype quickly and focus on creativity instead of low-level firmware. Everything runs on hardware you already have, including phones and Chromebooks.

How to start teaching robotics

Install free software

Download ARC-Lite on classroom tablets, Chromebooks, or PCs — no cost and no license setup to get started.

Pick your hardware

Use affordable, widely available controllers like Arduino, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi, or a supported classroom robot. See supported hardware.

Follow guided lessons

Start with built-in activities and step-by-step tutorials so students build a working robot in the first session.

Grow into code & AI

Progress from visual Blockly to JavaScript and Python, then add computer vision, speech, and AI skills as students advance.

What students learn

Coding & computational thinking

Sequencing, logic, loops, and problem-solving — first visually with Blockly, then in real languages like JavaScript and Python.

Artificial intelligence

Hands-on experience with computer vision, speech recognition, and large language models applied to a physical robot.

Engineering & electronics

Connecting sensors, servos, and controllers teaches how software and hardware work together in real systems.

Collaboration & creativity

Students design, test, and iterate as teams — sharing projects with a worldwide community of robot builders.

Support for educators

Schools, clubs, and educators can access volume licensing and grant assistance to bring ARC Pro into advanced courses. Learn more on the schools, clubs & educators program page, or contact us to talk through your classroom.

Why Synthiam

Why robot builders choose us

Because 16 years of real-world robotics are built into every feature.

Since 2010, we have worked side by side with robot builders around the world. More than 4 million robot connections have shown us what works, what breaks and what builders actually need, and every lesson has gone back into the software. Through the Robot Skill Store, we connect 600+ partners directly with those builders, so every new sensor, service and AI integration one partner adds is ready for everyone.

The secret is simple: the more our software is used, the better it gets.

2010

Building robot software since

4 million+

Robot connections to our software

600+

Partners in the Robot Skill Store

For makers & DIY builders

ARC: proven by the community

The Windows platform for hobbyists, makers, students and teachers, with the full Robot Skill Store, Blockly, JavaScript and Python, and ARC Pro for advanced projects and courses.

Explore ARC

For robot builders & industry

ARCx: everything we learned, rewritten

Our next-generation platform, rewritten from the ground up with modern technology. It runs on the robot itself on Windows, Linux or Raspberry Pi, talks to industrial PLCs, and is programmed from a browser on your network or from anywhere.

Explore ARCx

For educators & students

ARC-Lite: built for learners

Our free robotics education app for Android, Chromebook and Windows. Guided lessons and Blockly activities teach robot programming step by step, then grow into JavaScript and Python. No robotics background required.

Explore ARC-Lite

Bring robotics to your classroom

Get the free ARC-Lite app and start teaching robots, coding, and AI today — no robotics background required.

Get ARC-Lite Free Explore School Programs

Robotics Education, Coding and AI Lessons