After noticing signs for RobotiX around town and was talking about technology at a local restaurant; this eventually led to a conversation with Viral Rane-Dabhade, one of the owners of RobotiX Institute.
As a father, I am always on the lookout for educational resources for my son. After my discussion with Rane-Dabhade, she scheduled my son for a free trial at RobotiX.
When we visited the institute, Om Dabhade, a 17-year-old senior at Blackman High School, and Viral, his mother, welcomed us.
While my son was building a robot, I spoke to Om and learned about the inspiration behind bringing RobotiX to Murfreesboro.
“I have always had an interest in robotics and researched to find there was not a robotics program here,” he said. “I could start something new here and create a new community within Murfreesboro.”
Some common misconceptions parents and kids have before attending RobotiX are that it will be too challenging or that a background in engineering is necessary. However, the program aims to nurture a child’s curiosity and emphasizes that making mistakes is part of the learning process.
“We want them to learn [that] if you made a mistake, break it apart, and do it again,” Viral said.
With AI’s increasing integration into our daily lives, the future of the robotics industry looks promising, and kids must develop skills in this area. Om highlighted the significance of introducing kids to their capabilities, emphasizing that a spark is all they need to start a fire.
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, the global robotics market is projected to reach $260 billion by 2030. Within this market, professional services robots are expected to account for up to $170 billion in market share, while industrial and logistics robot sales are anticipated to reach around $80 billion. AI will allow robots to handle unsupervised, unexpected situations.
RobotiX Institute offers a range of robotics lessons tailored for students ages 4–14, based on the Carnegie Mellon Robomatter curriculum using VEX IQ and Lego EV3. Their 3-step process follows Bloom’s taxonomy, a cornerstone for many educational systems: Remember/Understand, Apply/Analysis, and Evaluate/Create.
The Vex IQ Robotics World Championship will be held in Dallas, Texas, in May 2025.
“With over 10,000 people from different countries, I want to take 10 kids next year. If they win something, Murfreesboro is winning,” Viral said. The competition format offers a multi-stage challenge, with local, regional, and national qualifiers leading to the prestigious World Championship.
Om is a product of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County schools. He started at Scales Elementary and is now a senior at Blackman High School. Teaching at RobotiX allows him to provide opportunities to kids and introduce robotics in a fun environment.
“Humans are naturally accustomed to help provide for the world. Anytime there is a problem, there will always be a solution. What robotics stands for right now is the building up of a community. And that community, I feel like, will help grow Murfreesboro,” Om said.
Viral encourages parents to allow their curious children to explore different interests and believes that robotics is not just about building robots but also about building a community and providing growth opportunities.
Viral Rane-Dabhade
Sunil Dabhade and Viral Rane-Dabhade are co-owners of RobotiX Institute and operate the business along with their son Om; contact them at contactus@rxiedu.com or 615-721-2650, or visit them at their address at 1630 S. Church St., Unit 103, Murfreesboro. For more information about RobotiX Institute, visit rxiedu.com.
