Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is MASLAB?
A: MASLAB is MIT's premier IAP autonomous robotics competition. Every January, our students learn all about the fundamentals of autonomous robotics--mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and software engineering--and then use their newfound skills to build an autonomous robot that competes in a stacking game.
Q: What does MASLAB stand for?
A: MASLAB stands for Mobile Autonomous Systems LABoratory.
Q: I have no robotics experience. Is MASLAB for me?
A: Yes! MASLAB has no prerequisites. We will teach you everything you need to know in order to build your robot, and you will work on a project team, so you will never be alone in the effort.
Q: I've been doing robotics for a long time. Is MASLAB for me?
A: Yes! Though we require no prior experience, we certainly welcome those who have it! You can share your expertise and experience with others, and you'll have the ability to acquire even more experience and skill through this course and competition.
Q: How much time should I spend on this class?
A: We have no minimum requirement for the amount of time students should spend on the class. However, we encourage you to spend at a minimum 10-15 hours on the class each week. That said, in previous years, the students with the best performance during the final competition typically spend 25-35 hours each week on the class.
Q: Can I pick my own project team?
A: Absolutely you can! In fact, we strongly encourage you to! Teams consisting of friends consistently perform better (on average) then teams consisting of students who didn't know each other before. This is because friends understand each other's talents, skills, communication styles, and values better than strangers do. MASLAB is a team sport, and we want you to experience the team bonding, friendship, and friendly competition of MASLAB to the fullest by forming a team with your friends.
Q: Can I take this class remotely?
A: Unfortunately, because MASLAB mainly consists of hands-on lab activities, we cannot support remote students. However, you are still welcome to access our lecture slides & notes as well as watch our final competition online! Links for the lecture slides & notes as well as the competition livestream will be made accessible on this website in January.
Q: How many assignments are there and how is the class graded?
A: There is one assignment: build an autonomous robot! We will provide you with all necessary parts, requirements, preliminary designs, and a modest budget to purchase additional parts if you so desire. Our highly skilled TAs will be right by your side throughout the entire process, coaching you and guiding you so you can have the best robot possible! Furthermore, you will work on a team of 2-6 students, so you will never be alone in this endeavor. We will conduct design reviews throughout the month to help you stay on track and resolve any technical difficulties you may encounter.
The class is graded pass/fail, and your performance during the final competition has zero effect on your grade. All we want to see is that you were open to learning, made a good effort, and tried your best. (I seriously doubt anybody in twenty years has failed the class.)
Q: What should I do if this page doesn't answer my question?
A: If this FAQ page doesn't answer your question, please contact the MASLAB staff via email at maslab-2026-staff@mit.edu. We will be happy to answer your question!