Microelectronics and Cybersecurity Learning Opportunities for Our Community
The University of Delaware’s Center for Cybersecurity, Assurance, & Privacy (CCAP) launched a new initiative funded by the NSF CyberCorps granted to engaged students and families in microelectronics and cybersecurity through hands-on learned. This spring, we hosted five Community Science Days (CSD) on Saturdays (at no cost), each exploring themes in engineering, technology, and microelectronics. These events took place at the University of Delaware’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, featuring state-of-the-art facilities like the iSuite Maker Space and Cyber Range.
Microelectronics Community Science Days
Delaware residents attending public or charter high schools within the School District of Delaware had the opportunity to participate in our 2025 Microelectronics Community Outreach programs at no cost. These programs were designed for rising high school freshmen through rising seniors and quickly filled due to limited space.
Between March 22 and May 10, 2025, we hosted five Community Science Days on Saturdays, engaging 12 high school students and their accompanying adult family members. Each session included three hours of interactive educational activities with regular breaks, providing participants with hands-on experiences in microelectronics, engineering, and technology.
These planned experiences successfully introduced students and families to key concepts while making use of the University of Delaware’s advanced facilities and expert faculty guidance:
(1) Motor Day (March 22)
Learn how to build an H bridge motor drive circuit and control the speed of a motor using an Arduino. Participants learn about motor startup current, resistors, transistors, diodes, and capacitors.
(2) Nano Drone Day (April 5)
Learn about Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors and radio frequencies, and build a 27-gram nano drone with precise indoor positioning. Participants learn about I2C communication protocols, microcontrollers, and radio frequency control.
(3) MEMS Day (April 26)
Learn how microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) work and build a motion controller for a mini drone. Participants learn about MEMS accelerometers and MOSFET transistors.
(4) Robot Vision Day (May 3)
Learn how Light-to-Frequency microelectronic sensors and servos work and build a color-based sorting robot. Participants learn about pulse-width modulation and photodiodes.
(5) Self-Driving Car Day (May 10)
Learn how ultrasonic and infrared sensors work and build a miniature self-driving car. Participants learn about microcontrollers and the Arduino ecosystem.
Questions regarding our Spring and Summer Outreach programs? Contact us here at the Center for Cybersecurity, Assurance and Privacy. Email: cybersecurity-info@udel.edu
H bridge motor drive circuit.
27-gram nano drone.
- Drone motion control with accelerometer.
Self-driving car with sensors.
Light-to-frequency microelectronic sensor.