Module 6: Drone Futures – Innovate and Inspire

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Drone Futures

Module 6 · Innovate & Inspire

UC Merced Drone Workshop · Design the future of drone technology.

Welcome, innovators! Today you think big. Get creative, team up, and develop a groundbreaking drone concept — a sport, a business, or a solution that helps your community. Let's see what you can bring to life.

🚀 Get Inspired

Watch these to start dreaming up your concept:

🧰 Materials

Paper • pencils • colored markers • lots of ideas • great attitudes

💡 The Innovation Challenge

In your small group, choose one of these three challenges and invent a brand-new application for drones.

⚽ A. Design a Drone Sport

Objective: create the next great sport!

Think about: What are the rules and how do you win? Is it a race, a skill challenge, or a team game? How many drones and players? What does the field look like? How do you make it safe and fun to watch?

💼 B. Pitch a Drone Business

Objective: build a business that uses drones to provide a service or product.

Think about: What problem can you solve in your community — fast delivery, photography, inspecting hard-to-reach places? Who are your customers? What's a simple way the business makes money?

❤️ C. Drones for Good

Objective: use drones to make a positive impact on a local or global issue.

Think about: How can drones help your community or the world — monitoring parks, finding lost pets, delivering supplies to community gardens? What specific problem are you solving? Who benefits?

🎤 Develop & Showcase

Step 1 — Brainstorm & plan

Use paper and markers to sketch and flesh out your idea. Think through all the details of your sport, business, or community solution.

Step 2 — Create your pitch

Prepare a short 3-5 minute presentation. Make it clear, exciting, and persuasive. A clear, labeled sketch helps the class picture your idea.

Step 3 — Present your future

Each group presents. Be ready to answer questions and explain what makes your idea unique and powerful.

★

📺 Share Your Concept

Post your team's idea — a photo of your sketch or pitch notes — to The Wall. Put your team name in the Subject line.

Career Connection

Spotting a problem and pitching a solution is what entrepreneurs, product designers, and engineers do every day. Whole careers exist in social innovation, business, and technology for people who can look at a drone and imagine a use no one has tried yet. Business and engineering programs at community colleges and at UC Merced are built for first-generation students with exactly that kind of vision.

You Pitched the Future

You took an idea from a blank whiteboard to a real pitch you presented out loud. That is how new technology begins. Next up: Module 7 — TRUST Certified Drone Pilot.

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