MIX Blimp & Robotics Short Courses are Flying

The MIX Blimp & Robotics Short Courses are Flying this fall, giving Mason students an opportunity to explore mechatronics, robotics, programming, and competitive strategy through hands-on projects.

Both courses are taught by award-winning Mechanical Engineering Professor Daigo Shishika, who brings his expertise in robotics, engineering, and game theory into the MIX classroom. Students learn how mechanical systems, electronics, sensors, actuators, and software work together to create intelligent machines.

Fall 2026 marks the first semester Professor Shishika is teaching the MIX Robotics Short Course, which he has developed as “Robotics × Game Theory.” Students use game theory as a framework for developing, testing, and revising robot code while considering how their machines will behave in competitive environments. Rather than simply programming a robot to perform a task, students learn to anticipate opponents, adapt their strategies, and continuously improve their designs based on competition.

Together, the Blimp and Robotics courses offer students a unique opportunity to learn mechatronics by building, programming, testing, competing, and iterating—bringing engineering theory to life through hands-on experimentation in the MIX.