The University of Dayton School of Engineering recently introduced a pilot interdisciplinary robotics course designed to transform how students engage with autonomous systems. By prioritizing hands-on, applied learning, the curriculum of MEE 490 provides an accessible entry point into a field that is rapidly reshaping the industrial landscape. This course bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world application by using the F1Tenth autonomous vehicle platform. Throughout the semester, students develop and test their code in digital simulations before applying it to physical robotic cars. Students solve complex problems in real time and manage the unpredictable variables of the physical world, all while mastering the essential skill of professional teamwork. This rigorous process leads to a final racing competition modeled after events at major global technology conferences. At the heart of this initiative is the Robot Operating System, or ROS, which serves as the global industry standard for robotics middleware. By mastering this platform, UD students are gaining the exact technical fluency required by modern engineering firms. “Robotics is a rapidly growing field, and understanding how to interact with robotic systems-particularly through the Robot Operating System (ROS), which is widely used in industry-is an essential skill for modern engineers,” said Dr. Krishna Kidambi, assistant professor and instructor of MEE 490. The technical skills gained throughout the term are substantial, as students develop a strong mastery of Python programming specifically for robotics, learning to process sensor data from LiDAR systems and implement control algorithms for autonomous navigation. By mastering tasks like obstacle detection and wall following, students learn how to manage the movement of complex machines in real time. Beyond these technical milestones, the course builds professional strength by requiring students to collaborate across different engineering majors. “In this initial offering, the majority of participants were juniors and seniors, reflecting the