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Robotics in Real Contexts: field validation of Unitree Go2 Pro in educational environments in North Carolina
Today, technology serves as a universal language of partnerships formed between educational, community, and technology institutions in the United States and around the world. A key principle of such collaboration is working with robotic solutions in real educational and applied environments—beyond laboratories and demonstration scenarios.
It was with this approach that a joint 30-day project between AA8 Corporation and Futurology was implemented, within which the Unitree Go2 Pro quadruped robot was integrated into educational, community, and workforce initiatives in the state of North Carolina.
The project reflected an important part of our mission: to demonstrate that robotics is practical and useful — capable of supporting, optimizing, and working in tandem with people.
During November–December, the robot operated in four rural counties of North Carolina — Granville, Vance, Person, and Franklin. In total, 221 participants took part in the project, engaging across five different interaction formats:
- structured robotics labs within K–12 education programs;
- demonstration sessions in school gymnasiums;
- community events with open access for families and local residents;
- technical workshops for teenagers using digital twins;
- presentations for representatives of local government and business communities.
- This approach made it possible to evaluate the robot’s effectiveness across a wide range of scenarios — from the educational process to public and institutional use.
Operation in real-world conditions
Within the project, the Go2 Pro operated in environments with limited infrastructure, including locations without stable Wi-Fi or mobile connectivity. The robot was deployed across a variety of surface types — from polished floors and carpets to gravel parking areas and open green spaces.
One of the key technical outcomes was the confirmed effectiveness of the autonomous control mode (AP Mode), which ensured stable platform operation even in the absence of external networks. This proved to be a critical factor for rural educational and community environments.
Quantitative results and engagement
At the end of the 30-day period, the following metrics were recorded:
- a 67% increase in attendance at weekly robotics labs;
- an 88% participant return rate for repeat sessions, despite weather and logistical constraints;
- 82% of participants aged 6 to 75 were able to complete basic programming scenarios in under 15 minutes after their first interaction with the platform;
- 94% of participants expressed a desire to retry tasks after initial programming errors.
These results indicate a high level of engagement and sustained interest that goes beyond the initial exposure to the technology.
Educational outcomes and skill development
Beyond basic block-based programming scenarios, the project demonstrated the platform’s potential as a tool for progressing from introductory levels to more advanced technical tasks:
- 44% of teenagers participating in specialized workshops advanced to writing functional scripts in Python and C++;
- the average level of participant confidence in explaining how robots work increased by +2.3 points on a 5-point scale;
- the share of participants expressing interest in STEM fields increased from 24% to 68% after completing the program.
These indicators confirm the effectiveness of robotics as a tool for motivation, the development of technical literacy, and career orientation.
For a significant share of participants, interacting with the robot became their first direct experience with advanced robotics of this level. This had a substantial impact on perceptions of technology accessibility in small towns and rural areas.
“I never thought I’d see something like this here in Oxford, North Carolina,” one of the participants noted.
Such feedback underscores the role of robotics as a tool that helps reduce the technological gap between major innovation hubs and local communities.
The collaboration between AA8 Corporation and Futurology demonstrated not only the possibility but the necessity of building sustainable models for integrating robotic solutions into educational and workforce programs. The project confirmed that the combination of real-world context, accessible interfaces, and partnership-driven collaboration creates a solid foundation for scaling similar initiatives in the future.
