Innovation in Motion: Co-Designing the Electric & Autonomous Vehicles kit
A Journey by FABLab Bangkok and Srinakharinwirot University Demonstration School Prasarnmit (SPSM ) In the not-so-distant future, cars won’t just move us—they’ll think, sense, and respond to the world around them. To prepare young innovators for that future, we joined forces to design a one-of-a-kind EV & AV Educational Bootcamp — where students don’t just learn how electric and autonomous vehicles work, they build and race their own.
Powering the Future: Learning Through Engineering
The bootcamp transforms classrooms into mini engineering labs, bringing together students, mentors, and technology. The journey begins by exploring the ecosystem of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) — two forces reshaping mobility worldwide.
Students first dive into how electricity replaces fuel, how sensors replace human reflexes, and how algorithms replace the steering wheel. They learn the 6 fundamental systems that make up every EV:
- Energy Source & Storage – batteries, BMS, and efficient energy flow.
- Power Electronics – the gateway between energy and motion.
- Electric Drive System – motors and drive units that create movement.
- Control Systems – the brain that interprets signals and makes decisions.
- Auxiliary Systems – the comfort, safety, and support infrastructure.
- Chassis & Safety Systems – the body and bones of every moving innovation.
These systems form the backbone of both the real-world EV industry and the custom EV learning kits students will later build with their own hands
Phase 1: Understanding the EV & AV Ecosystem
Students explore how electric and self-driving vehicles combine mechanical design, electronics, and intelligence. Through interactive showcases and experiments, they uncover real-world standards — from global EV trends to solid-state batteries and sensor fusion.
This phase highlights how sustainability and technology converge: cleaner, safer, smarter mobility. It’s not just science — it’s purpose-driven engineering.
Phase 2: Hands-On Prototyping — From Circuits to Smart Cars
The second phase turns theory into motion. Each team receives a custom educational EV kit — a modular platform powered by ESP32 microcontrollers, sensors, Battery monitoring system module, and rechargeable batteries. Students integrate:
- OLED displays for live vehicle data
- IMU, voltage, and light sensors to detect motion, balance, and brightness
- Motor drivers controlling DC and servo motors
- Battery monitoring modules (INA219) for power analysis
Using the Arduino IDE, students program 2 main driving modes:
- Manual Mode – Using a PlayStation 3 joystick, participants manually control direction, speed, and energy consumption, learning the fundamentals of electric drive systems and vehicle dynamics.
- AI-Controlled Mode – Vehicles switch into autonomous mode, using IMU and light sensors to respond to environmental changes and navigate a track automatically — simulating how AVs “see” and “decide.”
This is where coding meets creativity — and students witness how sensors, electronics, and algorithms work together in harmony, just like in real EVs.
Competition Day: Engineering Meets Play
At the end of the bootcamp, the lab transforms into a dual-stadium arena:
- Manual Track – Where human control and driving skill take the spotlight.
- AI Track – Where autonomous intelligence competes for precision and energy efficiency.
Each team’s prototype is evaluated on speed, energy consumption, and innovation. The tension of competition merges with the joy of creation — it’s not about winning, but understanding how technology performs under real-world conditions.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
Beyond the wires and wheels, this bootcamp embodies a larger mission: to ignite curiosity and confidence in the engineers of tomorrow. Students leave not only with a functioning EV prototype, but with a new way of thinking — systems thinking, problem solving, and sustainable innovation.
They learn that every great technology starts small — with an idea, a spark, and a team willing to build something new.
From Circuits to Streets, Innovation Begins Here.
FABLab Bangkok and SPSM believe that education should move like technology — fast, bold, and purposeful. Through the EV & AV Bootcamp, we are not just teaching about vehicles — we are building the mindset to engineer the future of mobility.
For more information, get in touch with us through the following channels:
Website: https://fablabbkk.com/
E-mail: fablab@kxinnovation.com
Phone: (+66) 02-470-7906
Address: KX Knowledge Xchange (Basement floor) 110/ 1 Thanon Krung Thon Buri, Bang Lamphu Lang, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600
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