2026/11/04
"The robot car moved exactly as I had planned!"
"How are brakes made in Plant?"
To foster an interest in technology and provide a learning opportunity that connects these surprises and questions, ADVICS held the "Summer Vacation Limited! Robot Car Programming x Plant Tour" on August 3, 2026. This event was held as part of the "Toyota Science Club" organized by the Toyota City Science and Technology Education Promotion Association.
The Toyota Science Club is an initiative that provides children with opportunities to learn about science, technology, and manufacturing, in collaboration with companies, universities, and other organizations. Through various hands-on workshops, it aims to cultivate children's interest in science and their spirit of inquiry, thereby fostering the development of future leaders.
On the day of the event, 41 people in total—21 children from 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of junior high school, and 20 guardians—gathered at ADVICS Technical Center. Through a programming workshop using robot cars and a tour of the Kariya Plant, they experienced the appeal of technology and manufacturing.
The joy of learning programming with robot cars
Since 2016, our company has been conducting programming courses for local children and students. By 2025, we have held 28 courses, with a total of 1,621 participants.
During this tour, a programming workshop was held in the morning. The children challenged themselves to create programs that would make robot cars move as they wished. They modified their programs while checking the vehicle's movements, going through a process of trial and error. When it didn't work properly, they thought about the cause and found solutions together with our child supporters and their peers. Through this process, the children naturally developed computational thinking skills.
Through programming, participants develop not only computer skills but also the ability to organize problems, think critically, and make improvements. The moment the robot car moved exactly as envisioned, the venue erupted in cheers and smiles.
Brake technology and programming that save lives
Prior to Plant tour, the children learned about the role and mechanisms of brakes developed and manufactured by ADVICS. Reliable braking performance and high reliability are essential for safely slowing down and stopping cars and protecting people's lives.
ADVICS handles a wide range of brake products necessary for a single car, from Electronically controlled brake system to Caliper, pads, and Disc. One example is the "Cooperative regenerative braking system," which optimally combines regenerative braking, which recovers energy as electricity during deceleration, with hydraulic brakes. In addition, in advanced safety technologies such as automatic braking, sensors capture the surrounding environment, and a computer processes the information to control the vehicle. The concept of "changing movement according to conditions," which we experienced in the programming course, is also utilized in these technologies.
The children deepened their understanding of technology by learning how the programming concepts they used to control the robot cars are applied to brake technology that protects human lives and to manufacturing that will support future mobility.
Kariya Plant Supporting the stopping power of cars worldwide
In the afternoon, we moved to the Kariya Plant and took a Plant tour. The Kariya Plant is Plant oldest and most established of ADVICS 'Plant located around the world.
In Plant, humans and robots work together to produce high-quality products. Programming supports various aspects of manufacturing, from product development and control of production equipment to maintaining and improving quality.
Participants, wearing anti-static work clothes, entered the manufacturing site and learned how brakes, which power the stopping power of cars around the world, are made. They received explanations about the many processes involved in completing a product and the measures taken to maintain high quality. By experiencing a manufacturing site that they wouldn't normally see, the children deepened their understanding of manufacturing and the work of engineers.
You could be the engineer of the future!
At the end of the event, a message was shared with the children: "You could be the engineer of the future!" It conveyed that each child's passion—whether it's building things, robots, or programming—can lead to new technologies and manufacturing.
An interest in science and technology begins with a small curiosity. The feeling of "why?" and "I want to try it" is the first step towards new discoveries and growth. ADVICS will continue to work in cooperation with local communities to support the learning of the next generation of children.
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