Drone Maker: Build, Code & Fly for High Schoolers

Length: 1 week

Accreditation: Fully WASC Accredited (The Gold Standard in K-12 Education)

Prerequisite: None

DESCRIPTION

In this hands-on 1-week session, you will explore flight dynamics and Python programming to engineer your own aerial maneuvers.

No experience needed—everyone learns at their own pace, with extra challenges for students who are ready for more.

This isn't about just manually flying a drone with a joystick; it’s about understanding how it flies. You will dive into the physics of aerodynamics, analyzing how lift, drag, and thrust keep a machine airborne.

You will move beyond simple remote controls to Python coding, writing scripts to execute precision maneuvers. Finally, you will merge the physical and digital worlds, using Holographic Augmented Reality (AR) to visualize flight data and control your drone through immersive virtual terrains inside the classroom.

The Magic of Drones + AR

• Engineer the Flight: Don't just watch; analyze. Explore the mechanics behind the machine, understanding how motors, rotors, and sensors work together to achieve stability.
• Code with Python: Forget manual controls. You will use Python code to program autonomous flight paths.
• AR Flight: The classroom becomes a futuristic landscape. Use Holographic AR to program your physical drone to navigate digital obstacles or visualize telemetry data in real-time.

Hardware Provided

The following hardware is provided for each student in camp:

• Drone: A Programmable Drone equipped with a camera and optical sensors with PicoW (industry standard).
• Note: The drone hardware is provided for camp use, not to take home.

What You Will Do

• Analyze Aerodynamics: Study the physics of flight and learn how to manipulate a drone's pitch, roll, and yaw through code.
• Program Flight Paths: Use Python to script automated take-offs, landings, and flight patterns.
• AR Design: Create interactive AR environments and program your drone to navigate them autonomously.
• Debug & Iterate: Test your flight scripts, observe the drone's behavior, and refine your logic to achieve the perfect run.

Students will learn the following:

• Introductory Drone Engineering (Highschool Level)
• Introductory Drone Coding (Highschool Level)
• Python Coding (Highschool Level)
• Holographic AR Design & Logic for Drone Control (Highschool Level)
• UI/UX Design (Highschool Level)
• Interactive Storytelling for Drone Applications (Highschool Level)
• Debugging & Problem-Solving (Highschool Level)

⚠️ Essential Safety & Readiness Guide

To ensure a safe environment, students must adhere to the following protocols:

• Strict Flight Zone (Indoor Only): Drones are regulated by the FAA. Students are strictly prohibited from flying drones outside the classroom or designated safety nets. Maturity and immediate compliance with instructor guidance are required.
• Personal Safety: Fast-spinning propellers require caution. Students with long hair must tie it back, and loose clothing or drawstrings must be tucked in to prevent tangling.
• Focus & Patience: Coding flight takes practice. Be ready to write code, test it, crash (safely), and try again.