Drone Mission Systems: Search & Rescue Challenge :: January 31, 2026

Part 1: Brainstorm & Design Your Drone Playground!

1. Safety Zone Chat

Before we even think about building, let’s talk safety for flying around obstacles:

• Clear Communication: We’ll need signals like “Drone in course!” or “Pilot ready!”
• One at a Time: Only one drone flies the course at a time.
• Eyes on the Drone: Always keep your drone in sight.
• Crash Plan: If you lose control or are about to crash, throttle down (left stick all the way down) immediately!
• No-Fly Zones: We’ll designate areas where drones should not fly (e.g., near people waiting their turn).

2. Course Design Challenge 

Get creative! As a team or class, let’s think about what makes a great drone obstacle course:

• What to Use: How can we use hula hoops (vertically, horizontally?), chairs (fly under, over, around?), tables, or even tape lines on the floor?
• Skill Test: Think about including sections that test:
  
  • Flying through hoops (precision!)
  • Flying under tables (altitude control!)
  • Making sharp turns around chair legs (yaw and roll mastery!)
  • Landing on a target (gentle touch!)
• Start Simple, Add Wow: Maybe your course has an “easy path” and a “challenge path.”
• Flow is Key: Make sure there’s a clear start, finish, and path to follow.

3. Sketch Your Flight Path!

• On paper, draw a map of your proposed obstacle course.
• Label the obstacles and show the intended flight path(s).
• Discuss: Is it safe? Is it challenging? Is it fun? Make adjustments as a team.

Part 2: Sharpen Your Piloting Skills! (Practice in an Open Area)

Before setting up the full course, let’s practice some key moves in a clear space. These will be essential for navigating your awesome designs!

1. Control Check-In:

• Which joystick controls your altitude (up/down)? (Left stick, up/down)
• Which controls yaw (rotating left/right)? (Left stick, left/right)
• Which controls pitch (forward/backward)? (Right stick, up/down)
• Which controls roll (sliding left/right)? (Right stick, left/right) Remember: Small, gentle stick movements are key for precision!

2. Practice Drills:

• Hoop Pass Warm-up:
  
  • Have someone safely hold a hula hoop vertically. Practice slowly flying your drone through the hoop. Focus on steady altitude and precise forward movement. Try it from different angles if you can!
  • If possible, lay a hula hoop flat on the ground and practice taking off, hovering above it, and then landing gently inside or beside it.
• Altitude Hold & Weave:
  
  • Practice flying to the height of a tabletop and holding it steady. Then, fly to the height of a chair seat and hold.
  • Set up 2-3 “markers” (like books or cones) a few feet apart in a line. Practice weaving the drone around them in a slalom pattern, using smooth roll and yaw controls.
• Precision Rotations (Yaw Practice):
  
  • In an open spot, practice making your drone do slow, controlled 90-degree and 180-degree turns using only the yaw control (left stick, left/right), trying to keep it in the same spot.

Next Up:

Once your course design is approved and you’ve honed your skills, it’s time to  set up your classroom obstacle course and get ready for the first flight attempts! Good luck, pilots!