#USA #DigiKey #Thief River Falls #Reinforcement Learning #Shawn Hymel

Dive into Reinforcement Learning with DigiKey

DigiKey, a global leader in the distribution of electronic components, is excited to announce an educational opportunity for those interested in robotics and artificial intelligence. On August 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. CDT, the company will host a free webinar titled "Train a Balance Bot with Reinforcement Learning" featuring engineering influencer and educator Shawn Hymel.

This engaging 90-minute virtual event promises to dive deep into the world of reinforcement learning (RL). Participants will not only learn from a seasoned expert but will also have the chance to apply their knowledge in a hands-on environment. The focus will be on training a self-balancing robot using RL techniques, with guidance on deploying it on physical hardware.

The webinar will appeal to a broad audience, from engineers and hobbyists to students keen on cutting-edge technology. During the workshop, attendees will gain practical skills, including:

• - Importing a 3D model of the M5Stack Bala-C into the MuJoCo physics simulator.
• - Training a neural network policy using a sophisticated multi-phase PPO curriculum.
• - Deploying the trained policy onto an ESP32 microcontroller utilizing Arduino.
• - Understanding the critical sim-to-real pipeline, an essential skill for applying AI in physical robotics.

Shawn Hymel, who has established himself as a leading instructor and content creator within the engineering community, emphasized the growing importance of reinforcement learning. He noted, “Almost every major robotics lab has turned to reinforcement learning to develop robust, AI-powered control for their robots, from quadrupeds to bipeds.” However, he acknowledges the challenges involved, specifically the complexity of training policies and defining effective reward functions.

The goals of this webinar include demystifying RL and providing a clear pathway for participants to begin their journey in robotics. With these foundational tools and techniques, attendees will find the confidence to implement RL in their projects.

For those interested in following along, having either the M5Stack Bala-C Balance Bot or the M5Stack Bala2 Fire Self-Balancing Robot on hand is encouraged. However, if you cannot attend live, registration is still recommended, as a recording will be made available to all registrants after the event.

Expanding the educational offerings, DigiKey has also launched a six-part video series in collaboration with Hymel. This series is designed to help engineers, hobbyists, and students navigate the significant field of robotics and reinforcement learning. Over the course of the videos, viewers will learn to train a robot using modern RL techniques—from simulation to actual hardware deployment. The culmination of the series will allow viewers to have a fully functional remote-controlled balance bot that has independently acquired its control policy through trial and error in a simulated environment. Full documentation of the tutorial will also be available on DigiKey's Maker.io site.

DigiKey’s initiative showcases its commitment to fostering educational resources for engineers, creators, and students, reinforcing its reputation as a thought leader in the electronic components and automation sector. To learn more about this event or to explore additional educational content, visit DigiKey.com.

About DigiKey

Headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA, DigiKey stands as the global leader in electronic components and automation product distribution. With an unprecedented selection of over 17.4 million components from more than 3,000 trusted manufacturers, DigiKey serves over a million customers yearly, including engineers, designers, and makers, facilitating innovative digital solutions and streamlined purchasing experiences. Discover further details about DigiKey’s offerings and educational resources on their official website.