2026 BEAR+ (Business • Engineering • AI • Robotics) Workshops - by ThinkerBox (Copy)

Computer Vision • Artificial Intelligence • Autonomous Systems

BEAR+ is an advanced robotics and AI program designed for high school students ready to move beyond basic robotics and into intelligent, real-world systems.

Using the HiWonder Pi robotics platform, students work with the same core technologies used in modern automation, robotics research, and AI-driven industries. This is not a toy-based program. BEAR+ exposes students to how intelligent machines actually sense, think, and act.

What Students Will Do

In BEAR+, students design, program, and test robots that can see, decide, and respond.

Students will:

• Work with computer vision to detect objects, colors, faces, and movement

• Explore AI-driven decision making using vision and sensor data

• Learn how autonomous systems navigate and react to their environment

• Integrate cameras, motors, and sensors into coordinated robotic behavior

• Debug, iterate, and improve performance through real-world testing

The emphasis is on systems thinking — understanding how hardware, software, and intelligence work together.

Technology Stack

BEAR+ is built on a modern, industry-relevant foundation:

• HiWonder Pi robotics platform

• Raspberry Pi–based computing

• Camera-based perception and vision processing

• AI concepts such as object detection and pattern recognition

• Structured programming and logic development

Students don’t just run prewritten demos.
They learn how to modify, control, and extend what the robot can do.

Why BEAR+ Is Different

Most robotics programs stop at movement and basic sensors.
BEAR+ goes further.

• Robots don’t just move — they perceive

• Programs don’t just follow rules — they make decisions

• Projects don’t exist in isolation — they reflect real-world applications

Students experience how robotics is used in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, smart systems, and research environments.

Competition & Pathway Readiness

BEAR+ is designed to prepare students to confidently integrate into:

• LEGO FIRST League

• FIRST Robotics programs

• VEX IQ and VEX V5 teams

Graduates understand robotics fundamentals deeply enough to adapt to new platforms, new rules, and new challenges — a critical skill in competitive and professional environments.

Who BEAR+ Is For

• High school students with prior robotics or coding experience

• Students curious about AI, automation, and intelligent machines

• Learners ready for a challenge beyond traditional robotics kits

No prior AI experience is required — concepts are introduced visually and hands-on.

The Outcome

Students leave BEAR+ with:

• A deeper understanding of how intelligent robots work

• Confidence working with advanced technology

• Skills that translate to competitions, advanced STEM courses, and future careers

BEAR+ doesn’t just teach students to build robots.
It teaches them to build intelligence into machines.