This paper presents a series of novel project-based learning labs for an introductory robotics course that are developed into a semester-long Robotic Decathlon. The last three events of the Robotic Decathlon are used as three final one-week-long project tasks; these replace a previous course project that was a semester-long robotics competition. The course assessment shows that this new approach enhances student learning with respect to the standard lecture/test style of teaching, and that the three shorter final project tasks make the course easier to manage and more enjoyable for the students.