STTR Phase I: Sensor-integrated platform enabling young learners to prototype circuits with AI-guided learning to expand access to modern electronics without hardware barriers

Award ID: 2537798

The broader and commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will make foundational learning in modern electronics - sensors, introductory microelectronics, and circuit prototyping - accessible to young learners at scale by removing barriers to early engagement with hardware-based science and engineering. Today, millions of U.S. learners have limited understanding of how electronic systems work because traditional instruction requires specialized hardware, trained educators, and laboratories. This project suggests easy-to-adopt, learning experiences for young learners to build and test virtual circuits on mobile devices, enabling participation regardless of access to instructors or equipment. The platform leverages mobile device sensors to sense and respond to real-world stimuli, bridging virtual and experiential learning. By transforming complex hardware concepts into intuitive, structured experiences, the project strengthens scientific understanding at an early age, catalyzing learners confidence with modern technology. The platform can be used effectively by learners working independently or in classrooms with educators lacking engineering expertise, enabling broader national reach. The initial market opportunity lies in after-school, home-based, and community learning programs seeking affordable, low-barrier STEM tools. Over three years, the project will promote electronics learning to thousands of learners, thus supporting the development of future semiconductor workforce. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase 1 project will research and develop an innovative platform that promotes learning of foundational concepts in modern electronics, i.e., sensors, introductory microelectronics, and circuit prototyping, to young learners. Designed for ubiquitous mobile devices (tablets and smartphones), the platform will feature fully virtualized circuit prototyping, research-guided scaffolded learning, and a unique, seamless integration with real-time sensor data (e.g., light, sound, motion) from learners devices. Under a project-based paradigm, learners will create virtual circuits that behave like real electronic circuits and respond to environmental stimuli, enabling testing of their designs in real-world conditions. A data-capture and analytics framework will identify early indicators of learner difficulty and predict drop-off risk, establishing the foundation for predictive instructional support tailored to novices. The platform introduces a new pathway for early electronics learning by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI)driven guidance, optimizing learning paths in real-time, and bridging virtual learning with real-world experimentation to catalyze a tangible understanding of electronics. The platform is envisioned as a key solution to deliver curriculum and learning outcomes at scale, unconstrained by complexity, cost, accessibility of physical hardware, or the availability of instructors having specialized domain knowledge. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Lindsay Portnoy