Drone Cadets Virtual Boot Camp
Course Description: If you’ve never touched a drone in your life, or if you’ve flown, but lack a full understanding of rules, safety, and what makes a drone fly; this course is for you. Drone Cadets Virtual Boot Camp places emphasis on best practices and always keeping safety first while explaining basic FAA rules pertaining to the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones. Principles of basic aerodynamics are also taught, so you begin to understand what makes a drone fly. A typical unit consists of several lessons including animated videos, articles, a puzzle or activity, and a quiz. After the basics of safety and drone operations are covered, it’s time to launch! Many lessons are followed by a hands-on free-flight or coded drone mission or challenge. By the end of this seven-unit course, it is our hope that students will:
- Communicate a high comfort level with basic drone flight.
- Use safety and flight procedures including the role of the team, navigational directional terminology, a Pre-Flight Checklist, and a post-flight log.
- Report the basic FAA rules for drone pilots.
- Identify basic parts of a drone, their purpose, and how to use the major systems of a drone correctly.
- Report key principles to aerodynamics necessary to achieve successful liftoff and flight.
- Use skills including testing, observation, troubleshooting, critical thinking, order of operations to complete a drone mission.
- Communicate interest in careers in technology and pioneers of aviation.
- Select code sequences for autonomous flight.
Course Introduction & Study Aids
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About This Course
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Glossary
The Vocabulary words, acronyms, and abbreviations you need to study are available in the PDF, attached to this lesson. Take a moment and download it now and familiarize yourself with these terms at the beginning of the course.
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Parts of a Drone
Familiarizing yourself with the Basic Parts of a Drone now can also help increase your understanding in many lessons going forward.
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WARNING: All Pilots Crash!
Read this BEFORE you launch!
Unit 1: Role of the Team
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Role of the Team Video
The study of flight began more than 500 years ago with an examination of some of the same basic aerodynamic principles we use to achieve flight today. In drone flight, we fly as a team and every person serves a vital role that needs to be recognized and implemented.
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Quote of the Day: Leonardo DaVinci Article
The study of flight began more than 500 years ago with an examination of some of the same basic aerodynamic principles we use to achieve flight today. In drone flight we fly as a team and every person serves a vital role that needs to be recognized and implemented. This article provides a review of the information contained within the video, and goes into more depth to help provide a deeper understanding of the Role of the Team.
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Role of the Team Article
You may have heard the phrase; “There’s Safety in Numbers.”
Well, this phrase is especially true when it comes to drone operations.”
One of the best ways to stay safe and exercise safe Best Practices, is to fly together with others as a team.
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Role of the Team Field Demonstration Video
The easiest way to explain the role of the team, and how the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and the Visual Observer (VO), maintain communication during a flight, is to show you! Let the field demonstration begin!
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Role of the Team Quiz
Test your understanding of the Role of the Team when flying drone missions.
Unit 2: Becoming A Drone Cadet
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Becoming a Drone Cadet Complete Video
Becoming A Drone Cadet
Watch the full video to get an overview of the basic principles necessary to understand before you can become a Drone Cadet.
• Safety Rules
• The language of drones
• How to fly a drone
This unit will give you a great deal of information. Let’s start by watching the full video. Then you’ll have an opportunity to review each lesson, in the unit getting more details before you take the quiz.
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Quote of the Day: Bessie Coleman
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Navigational Directional Terms
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FAA Safety Rules Video
Drone Cadets explains some very important Drone Safety Rules made by the FAA to keep us all safe. These rules are explained by Drone Cadets Co-Founders; Sgt. Tony Reid, Grace Cantwell, Robert Stipak, Panda the Drone Safety Bear and friends.
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Take the Drone Cadet Oath
It’s time to become Official Drone Cadets. If you agree to these rules, and you want to enter the Corps of Drone Cadets, stand up to take the Drone Cadet Oath. Renew this oath before every Drone Cadets Lesson so you'll remember these very important safety rules.
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I Agree
Please indicate that you agree to "Always Keep Safety First" by taking the Drone Cadet Oath.
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Using a Remote Controller
Before you can officially join the Corps of Drone Cadets, we have to cover some basics, like:
• Safety Rules
• The language of drones
• How to fly a drone
This unit will give you a great deal of information. Let’s start by watching the video. Then you’ll have an opportunity to review each lesson, in the unit getting more details before you take the quiz.
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FAA Safety Rules for Drone Pilots Quiz
Test your knowledge of some of the rules made by the FAA and Drone Cadets to help keep us all safe.
Unit 3: Prepare to Launch
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Renew The Drone Oath Quiz
Renew the Drone Cadet Oath before every Drone Cadets Lesson. This will help you remember these very important safety rules, and it will serve to reinforce your resolve to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
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Prepare to Launch Video
A safe, responsible drone pilot will always conduct a pre-flight safety check, called a Pre-Flight Checklist. This lesson explains the recommended procedures a drone pilot should take before every single launch. It also details the specific procedure to connect a DJI Ryze Tech TELLO(r) drone to a tablet via the TELLO App.
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Conducting a Pre-Flight Checklist Quiz
Let's see what you've learned about the Pre-Flight Checklist.
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Drone Cadet Flight Log
Learn about and download the Drone Cadets Flight Log, and start making history!
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Connecting Tello using the TELLO App Matching Quiz
Match the steps to to the correct order you must follow to connect your Tello drone to your tablet using the TELLO App.
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The Great Pix Mix-Up Escape Room Challenge
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Trouble Shooting Connection Issues with the Tello App
Here is some help anytime you hear yourself saying:
“Help, I can’t take off…"
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Tello IMU Calibration
Do this after a major crash, or if your drone begins to react unusually.
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Using GameSir® Remotes with Tello
Using a remote controller(RC) with "sticks" is an important step towards developing your drone flight skills. If you’ve been using a virtual remote controller up until now; you'll be surprised at how much easier it is to keep your eye on the drone while you fly with sticks.
Unit 4: Achieving Lift-Off
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Renew The Drone Oath Quiz
Renew the Drone Cadet Oath before every Drone Cadets Lesson. This will help you remember these very important safety rules, and it will serve to reinforce your resolve to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
2
Achieving Lift-Off Video
This video helps you learn how to overcome one of the most common reasons for a "Failure to Launch" and explains how propellers work together on a quadcopter to create lift, or Aerodynamic Buoyancy.
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Achieving Lift-Off Article
This lesson helps you learn how to overcome one of the most common reasons for a "Failure to Launch" and explains how propellers work together on a quadcopter to create lift, or Aerodynamic Buoyancy.
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Propeller Mix Up Activity
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Achieving Lift-Off Quiz
Take this quiz to test you knowledge about some of the principles necessary to understand in order to achieve lift-off.
Unit 5: Autonomous Drone Flight
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Renew the Drone Oath Quiz
It's time to renew the Drone Cadet Oath.
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Super Hero Drones
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What Can Drones Do?
Take the Drone Eye Challenge!
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Download the DroneBlocks App
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Flipping For Tello Coded Mission
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Start Your DroneBlocks Community Membership (For Drone Camp In-A-Box Users)
Attention Drone Camp In-A-Box Users: Instructions to begin your DroneBlocks Community Membership.
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Start Your DroneBlocks Community Membership (For Other Users)
Instructions for all Other Users to begin their DroneBlocks Membership. (These instructions do NOT apply for Drone Camp In-A-Box Users.
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DroneBlocks Introductory Course
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DroneBlocks Simulator
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Troubleshooting Tello
Review
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Parts of a Drone Quiz
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Drone Cadets Boot Camp Crossword Puzzle
This Crossword Puzzle provides a fun and challenging way to study your vocabulary.
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Comprehensive Quiz
This quiz will assess your knowledge of the material covered in this course.
The short answer is No. You don’t NEED one, but you very well may WANT one. You can complete all the coded drone missions in a drone simulator, to which you will have access. That being said, there are a couple of activities and missions in the course that cannot be completed in the simulator. Let’s be realistic. The main purpose of this course is to help you learn to be a safe, responsible drone pilot. This requires some experience, which you will only get by flying a drone. Flying the missions in this course will help you get experience by using in a safe, responsible plan. You will begin flying in Unit 2, so you have a little time to get your first drone. In fact, we highly recommend waiting to fly your first drone until you finish Unit 2.
Ideally, you should take this course as soon as you have a desire to fly a drone, and BEFORE you grab your first drone remote controller. For this reason, we recommend beginning this course before your drone arrives. (You won’t actually fly until Unit 2). Alternatively, you should take this course as soon as you have had your first drone flight that didn’t go quite as planned, #It’sNotAsEasyAsItLooks! Drones are dangerous. We hope you will follow the Drone Cadets proven method of teaching, and learn the basics first; before you have a potentially bad experience.
Check with the drone’s manufacturer to see if it is rated for indoor flight. Drone Cadets routinely teaches indoors using small drones with propeller guards. For certain missions, we will even use a “cage” or plastic propeller guard that surrounds the entire drone, for extra safety. If you are in the market for a drone, we recommend purchasing Drone Camp In-A-Box which contains a drone with accessories and access to Drone Cadets Virtual Boot Camp. It’s a great deal and you’ll help support drone education for the underserved.
At Drone Cadets, we always keep safety first, so we recommend wearing Safety Glasses whenever you fly, even with a small drone. Tie your hair back if it’s loose. Fly in an open area. We recommend 12’ x 12’ of open space; free from any obstacles on the floor (like furniture) and in the air (like a ceiling fan). Any pilot under the age of 18 should be supervised by an adult. Additional safety procedures are covered in the course; like always completing a Pre-Flight Checklist. If outdoors, make sure to check the manufacturer's specification for wind and weather conditions favorable for your drone, and stay clear of all obstacles including wires and trees. Finally, we strongly recommend completing the first three units of the course before your first flight. Drone flight is a team sport. This is a great family activity that we hope you will enjoy together.
We believe it's not the age, but the stage of the child that matters. He or she has to know how to read, write and understand simple math. Additionally, she has to know how to use a tablet and be able to understand abstract concepts like connecting to WIFI and flying in a shape or pattern. Finally, she needs to have the ability to accept some responsibility and follow rules and procedures. Any pilot under the age of 18 should be supervised by an adult. We usually suggest 2nd or 3rd grade, but we've taught some pretty sharp 6-year-olds with amazing success. Only you can say when your child is ready, but it may come much sooner than you think!
Yes! You’re never too old to learn to fly a drone. The FAA safety rules, and best practices for responsible drone operation are the same for everyone. Are cartoons just for kids? We don’t think so. In fact, we admit it. At Drone Cadets, we’re just big kids at heart, so the animated videos were a lot of fun to make. They also gave us the freedom to animate complex principles into easily understood lessons. While there are certainly students too young to grasp these concepts, there are none too old. When you read the articles that support the videos, you’ll find they speak to a more sophisticated audience. This is what makes Drone Cadets the perfect choice for drone education that’s fun, while always keeping safety first. We hope you’ll enjoy this course, and find it appropriate for the whole family.
Safety glasses should be worn by everyone in the room, or space where a drone will be flown. Start with a small drone, like the DJI Ryze Tello®. Any drone you purchase should have propeller guards. For certain missions, we recommend a “cage” or protective guard that fits over the entire drone. It’s not if, but when you crash, so make sure you have extra propellers and propeller guards because these are consumables. We also recommend having extra batteries so you don’t have to wait for a recharge before you can fly again. If you are in the market for a drone, we recommend purchasing Drone Camp In-A-Box which contains a drone with accessories and access to Drone Cadets Virtual Boot Camp. It’s a great deal and you’ll help support drone education for the underserved.
Check with your drone manufacturer for the duration a battery is expected to last. Depending on your drone, a battery may last from 3 to 30 minutes. A Tello battery will last about 10 minutes, so we recommend having three batteries, or enough to fly for 30 minutes. An external multi-battery charger is also helpful. Typically drones have a minimum battery level requirement (like 50%) to complete certain functions, like flips, or other intelligent flight modes. For obvious reasons, we always recommend launching with a full battery and landing safely when it is running low. Remember to allow enough power to return to your launch position.
Drone Cadets is a unique Drone Education Program designed to produce safe and responsible drone pilots at any age. Our Certified Drone Instructors have taught more than a thousand students, bringing life-changing technology education to schools, individuals and families (many in under-served communities) in the US and throughout the world.
Now you can experience Drone Cadets Level 1 training on your own terms; anytime, anywhere. The best live Drone Cadets Level 1 training is now available as a virtual, animated series online only at X-University. You'll enjoy entertaining, animated lessons, flight missions and puzzles while learning FAA drone safety rules and even earning a digital drone badge.
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