Students from Tri-Valley high schools spend the week working in teams engaging in authentic hands-on experiences and “in the field” research. Expert keynote speakers share cutting-edge information on trends to help campers complete a week-long group project culminating in a juried student presentation. Students develop work readiness competencies, learn about jobs in the regional economy and have fun doing it!
Day 1: The first day of our drone coding camp was packed with introductions and hands-on learning. We explored drones as UAVs, focused on the Tello drone for education, and started coding using DroneBlocks. Activities included creating flowcharts and programming the drone to fly in shapes like squares and hexagons, introducing key concepts like algorithms and Yaw rotation.
Day 2:Day two of our drone coding camp was packed with learning advanced commands like the Curve Command for precise drone movements. We also focused on enhancing code with comments, exploring variables, and mastering conditional statements (If/Else). A highlight was visiting the county sheriff's office to see drones in action for law enforcement and emergency response, which left us inspired by their practical applications.
Day 3:Day three of our drone coding camp was focused on enhancing our coding skills through hands-on activities. We learned about functions to simplify our code and practiced flying drones manually using the TELLO app. Challenges included flying through hoops and rescuing a LEGO minifigure, testing our precision and control. Later, we engaged in problem-solving challenges like debugging code and optimizing drone operations, mirroring real-world scenarios. Additionally, we learned from Landon Blake about using drones for real estate development and infrastructure planning.
Day 4:On the fourth day of our drone coding camp, we focused on preparing for challenges and creating a presentation about our camp experience. We reviewed competition requirements and created a flowchart for the Green Challenge, then tackled coding for the Red Challenge. After lunch, we learned about drone applications in utilities from a PG&E representative. We then worked on our presentation, highlighting what we learned, our experiences with challenges, and the importance of work readiness competencies like communication and problem-solving.
Day 5:On competition day at our drone coding camp, we started with the Red challenge, managing successful runs after an initial test run setback. Transitioning to the Green challenge, we achieved partial success with our coding, securing nearly all points despite a crash. The Blue challenge posed the toughest test, but we persevered, earning recognition during the presentations and even winning awards for initiative and self-management.
Comments