The robotics that transforms young people, within reach of any school
The same learning journey that took the Amigos Droids athletes to the world robotics title, designed to reach any young person, anywhere in Brazil.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
In Brazil, educational robotics is still an out-of-reach dream for most young people: only 13% of public schools offer robotics or programming, which leaves millions out before they even start. At the same time, many teenagers lose their bond with school because what they learn makes no sense to them. Fx4 was created to tackle both problems at once: to lower the cost of entry into robotics and to give purpose, agency and a future back to the school experience.
School dropout data in Brazil, 2024 School Census - IBGE.
A competitive educational program aligned with the Brazilian computing curriculum (BNCC)
Fx4 takes a team of young people through a hands-on journey that culminates in the Robocopa. Beyond building and programming a robot, each team has to be financially sustainable, winning the support of the local community. More than robotics, it builds skills for life.
Affordable robotics kit
Everything the team needs to build and program the robot, delivered to the school.
Self-guided video learning track
Complete video course material, for students and teachers, guiding the journey from start to finish.
Preparatory meets
Monthly reviews of the development process, with online mentoring matched to the team's level.
Robocopa: the grand finale
At the end of the journey, the teams meet at a competition called Robocopa, where they present their projects and compete in the robot arena.
Competition is what engages young people, and the Robocopa is the event that makes the memory last. A robotics or entrepreneurship course is something you attend and then forget. A hands-on experience that culminates in a tournament stays with you for life.
Low cost and high engagement, with no need for a specialist teacher
The team coach
All the teaching content is on video. Students and teachers learn by doing, together. That is why the program works even in schools with no robotics teacher. The role of the adult in charge is to be the team coach, not the subject expert.
Easy-to-replace kit
The Fx4 robot kit uses FAST, our own building system, which is 10x more affordable without giving up quality. The electronic components are generic, low cost and easy to find online, which makes replacing parts simple.
Fx4 was designed to be simple to run in any school.
Robotics and Entrepreneurship
Fx4 is organized into teams of 6 to 10 students who split the work between the robot and running the team as a venture that has to sustain itself. Each area rests on specific pillars, and progress in them is recognized with awards at the Robocopa.
Automation
Develops the programming that controls the robot.
Engineering
Builds the actuators (the robot's arms) and handles maintenance.
Management
Organizes tasks, deadlines and budgets, and plans the fundraising.
Relevance
Handles communication and marketing to win the community's support.
At the Robocopa, teams compete in alliances of two, drawn on the day. Every match is played with a different partner, so young people have to compete and collaborate at the same time. Learning to cooperate with your opponents is essential.
Winning is not only about the robot. At the Robocopa, teams compete in the arena and with the projects built in the 4 areas, judged in pitch format. The awards recognize different talents within each team. Whoever shows excellence across all areas takes the title.
In the end, what changes is the young person
Whoever goes through Fx4 comes out different. They find out they are able to build, present ideas, lead and solve real problems. And, perhaps most importantly, they start to be seen differently: by classmates, by teachers and by their own community. The young person who used to go unnoticed becomes a reference. That is the real outcome of Fx4: agency and empowerment.
“The Fx4 program develops in depth all 7 essential competencies of the Brazilian computing curriculum (BNCC), fostering key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration.”
Not a promise. A result.
Figures from the most recently evaluated Robocopa — 2nd Sicoob Credinacional Robocopa.
“Fx4 democratized access to robotics. Students in Brazilian public schools think robotics is not for them, that it is complex, expensive, elitist. Through Fx4 we were able to show that robotics is for everyone.”
Otávio Rocha · President of Instituto Tauá
“I am 16 and I am already working at a local TV network. I was seen and recognized for my work thanks to Fx4.”
Lorena · Student
“I am very happy to see how my daughter is learning this field of technology and robotics here in the countryside, with you who are world champions.”
Cássio · Parent
“I am so happy to see our students this engaged in the project. The spark in their eyes is a joy to watch! Students who arrived at school at 7 in the morning and left at 5 in the afternoon, fully dedicated to Fx4.”
Érika Fabiani · School principalIn the media
Inspire Award at the FIRST World Championship 2026
The Amigos Droids team was the first team outside North America to receive the award, among more than 8,700 teams from 56 countries. It is proof that the method behind Fx4 works at the highest level.
What your school needs (and what we bring)
The split is simple and transparent: the school takes care of the space and the people, the Institute delivers the whole teaching structure and runs the competition.
The school provides
- A room with tables, chairs and power
- At least one computer with internet per team
- One adult in charge (the coach) — no expertise required
- Recruiting and supporting the young people
- Organizing the routine of meetings
Instituto Amigos Droids delivers
- Robotics kit
- Complete, self-guided video learning track
- Live remote mentoring
- Training for the coach in charge
- Full organization of the Robocopa
- Impact report at the end
No specialist teacher. The material is self-guided and the learning is shared — teacher and students move forward side by side, learning by doing.
How you want to take part
Bring Fx4 to your students
Fx4 can run as an extracurricular activity or be built into the curriculum, aligned with the Brazilian national curriculum (BNCC). It works from a single-team pilot up to entire school networks. We put together a proposal tailored to your institution's reality and budget.
Sponsor Fx4
Sponsoring Fx4 turns social investment into a real learning journey for teenagers, linking your brand to education, technology and local development. And the impact can be proven: your brand is recognized not as an advertiser, but as the one who made the opportunity possible.
The Institute is a non-profit association. Ask us about our projects under Brazilian tax incentive laws.
Get a tailored proposal
Tell us a bit about your school, network or company. We will get in touch to design the right format for your reality and your budget.
Want to see the results in practice?
Fill in the form and we will release our Impact Report — figures, ratings and testimonials from the Robocopas — for download right away.
📄 Fill in the form below and the Impact Report becomes available for download right away.
We got your message!
Thank you for your interest in Fx4. Our team will be in touch shortly to design the best proposal for your reality.
Frequently asked questions
From what age?
Fx4 is aimed at young people aged 12 to 19 — middle and high school.
How long does it last?
The program can be delivered as a full-year version (with 2 Robocopas) or a half-year version (February to June).
How many young people per team?
Up to 10 per team. A school can form as many teams as it wants.
Do we need a robotics teacher?
No. The method is self-guided by video and the learning is shared — teacher and students learn by doing.
What is included?
Robotics kit, video learning track, mentoring, coach training, organization of the Robocopa and the impact report.
Do you serve anywhere in Brazil?
Yes. Running events outside the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area is arranged separately.
What about the safety of the young people?
The program works with guardian consent forms, an image use policy and proper supervision at every stage.
How do we start?
Talk to us and get a proposal tailored to your institution.
Come with us
Robotics, entrepreneurship and agency within reach of any young person. Let's bring Fx4 to your school or community.