Electromechanics · Automation · Web app · Brussels
Design and Build of a Smartphone-Driven Kart
A hands-on BIP Week where students retrofit a pedal car to run on battery and control it with a smartphone. Build, test, experiment and work in an international team within one intensive week.
Online preparation + on-site week
Accommodation, meals (half board), social programme and material included
Nomination by the sending institution
International and collaborative learning environment
Build a smartphone-driven kart in one week
The goal of this week is to retrofit a pedal car to run on battery and control it thanks to your smartphone. The main focus is to provide hands-on experience of building up a running web app and kart within one week.
Theoretical explanations will be kept to a minimum to let students practice, discuss and experiment as much as possible. This is their project.
Retrofit a vehicle
Transform a pedal car into a small electric vehicle running on battery.
Control it with a smartphone
Create a web app and use Bluetooth communication to pilot the kart.
Experiment with automation
Discover 3D printing, motor control, servo motors, Arduino and BLE communication.
From 3D-printed gears to smartphone control: one week to build, test and drive.
Format
BIP = Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme. Non-Belgian and eligible students will automatically be considered BIP participants.
Students are invited to contact their International Office for further information about European funding possibilities.
This week has a limited capacity due to limited material. EPHEC will send the registration link to the selected students only and will contact you if the programme has already reached its maximal capacity.
300€
This fee includes:
- Accommodation from 31 January to 5 February, 5 nights
- Meals (half board): breakfasts, lunches and 1 supper
- Social programme
- Material for the project
Invoices will be sent individually to the students unless otherwise specified by the partnering institution.
Before 1 December 2026
The International Office of the sending institutions may download the form and return it completed by email to nominate their students before 1 December 2026.
A registration link will then be sent out to the selected students. Once students have completed the online registration, they are registered to the programme. No refunds will be made if cancellations are communicated later than 1 December 2026.
A look back at previous editions
Discover previous editions of this BIP Week and get a better idea of the international, technical and hands-on experience.
A look back at a previous edition
See how students worked together during the hands-on kart project.
2024 combined programme edition
A summary of the combined programme edition in Belgium and Finland.
Study in the heart of Europe
Beyond the academic programme, this BIP Week gives students the opportunity to discover Brussels, meet peers from abroad and experience an international campus atmosphere.
A central destination for European mobility.
A week hosted at EPHEC Galileo Campus .
A city to discover through cultural and social activities.
Collaborate with students from different countries.
What students will develop
Students will develop technical, soft and cross-cultural skills by working on a concrete project in an international team.
Technical skills
- Learn how to retrofit a vehicle and control it with a smartphone
- Learn about servo motors, electrical motors and their controllers
- Learn about UART and Bluetooth communication (BLE)
- Learn about microcontrollers such as Arduino
- Create a web app to pilot a small car
Soft skills
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Going out of your comfort zone
- Sense of community
- International mindset
Cross-cultural skills
- Work in international teams with students from different institutions
- Develop a better intercultural understanding
- Practice your English
- Work in an international environment
Have fun
- Discover Brussels
- Visit the Friet Museum
- Take part in teambuilding activities
Who is this week for?
The week is intended for students who master basics in Automation, Electromechanics, Mechatronics, IT, or related fields.
Automation
Basic understanding of automated systems and control principles.
Electromechanics
Interest in motors, mechanical systems and technical prototyping.
Mechatronics
Ability to combine mechanical, electronic and programming concepts.
IT basics
Willingness to work with microcontrollers, communication protocols and web app development.
BIP Week atmosphere
Agenda
From 4 to 6 pm, Brussels time
EPHEC Galileo Campus, Brussels
View campus page
Need more information?
For pedagogical questions or practical information, the EPHEC team can help students and partner institutions.
Frequently asked questions
Practical information to help students prepare their BIP Week in Brussels.
Who should book my accommodation? What time should I arrive at and leave the accommodation? What are the accommodation rules and what should I bring?
EPHEC will book the accommodation for students from foreign institutions. It is included in the 300€ registration fees for 5 nights, from Sunday to Friday.
The name and address of the hotel will be communicated later.
- Included in the price: breakfast, bed linen and towels
- Type of room: shared rooms or dorms
- Check-in / Check-out: check-in is generally from 15:00 and check-out until 10:00
Who should book my transportation and from when?
Students must book their own transportation to Brussels, as soon as possible once they are registered.
Arrival must be scheduled on Sunday at any time. Activities will only start on Monday morning, so there is no activity scheduled on Sunday.
Departure should be scheduled on Friday afternoon or evening. Activities will end around 15:00. Brussels National Airport, also called Zaventem, is around one hour away by public transport and around 30 minutes away by taxi.
What should I bring for the week?
Your laptop, a culinary specialty from your country for the international aperitif, and your curiosity.
Where is the meeting point on the first day and at what time?
The meeting point is EPHEC - Galileo Campus, Rue Royale 336, 1030 Schaerbeek, at 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning.
Reminder: there is no activity organized on Sunday evening.
How can I get around Brussels?
You will receive some public transport tickets on Monday morning to use Brussels public transport: metro, tram and STIB bus.
What activities are near my hostel?
The hostel is just a few minutes’ walk from the Botanical Garden and its cultural centre. The city’s cultural attractions are within easy reach.
- Place du Grand Sablon: 15 minutes by bus
- Grote Markt - Grand Place: 17 minutes by metro
- Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert: 16 minutes by metro
- Place Sainte Catherine: 18 minutes by metro
- Royal Park: 9 minutes by metro
- Magritte Museum and other museums: 12 minutes by metro
- Rue Neuve shopping street: 15 minutes by foot
Is there anything to prepare?
Nothing specific, but students are asked to take part in the mandatory online session organized before the start of the week in Brussels. More information will be provided during that session.
Are all activities mandatory?
Yes. Whether students are Belgian or not, all activities are mandatory. The purpose of a BIP Week is also to develop international relationships with other participants.
Online sessions are also mandatory.