Before You Begin
Welcome to the VEX AIR Controller Flight Course! In this course, students will apply what they learned in the Virtual Flight Course to flying the physical VEX AIR Drone with the VEX AIR Drone Controller. The goal of the course is for students to learn how to operate the drone safely, confidently, and with precision.
Teacher Notes in this Course: Teacher Notes are embedded within the course in boxes like these. The Student - Teacher toggle at the top of each lesson will change the view, showing or hiding teacher notes when selected. These Teacher Notes are designed to give you in-the-moment support and resources for facilitating the course.
Learning Objectives:
This unit is designed to introduce students to safety procedures and preparing their drone and controller for flight. By the end of this unit students will be able to:
- Demonstrate how to charge VEX AIR Batteries and the VEX AIR Drone Controller.
- Identify the steps to pair a controller and drone.
- Recognize the processes for updating drone and controller firmware.
- Identify how to disengage the Propeller Lock on the VEX AIR Drone.
- Demonstrate how to perform a pre-flight safety check before taking off.
- Safely take off and land the drone using the controller.
Environment Setup
Ensure that students have a large, safe, marked, open space in which to fly the drone. It is recommended that students stand at least 5 feet away from the drone while it is flying, and that the drone has at least 3 feet of clearance above it to the ceiling or any upward obstacles like light fixtures.
Prior to the first flight:
- Clearly mark the flying space with tape or other visual indicators – Ensure students know where they will be flying.
- Clear out any obstacles, like chairs or desks, from the flight area - These can be replaced when students are finished flying, and removed again at the start of the next session.
- Mark off a takeoff/landing zone – Use tape or another visual indicator to show where students should place the drone for takeoff within the flight area. This will act like the platform in the simulator, and gives a clear takeoff and landing target.
- Establish routines around interacting with the flight space – Together with students, document things like how to know it is safe to enter the flight space, how to indicate the state of the Propeller Lock when testing, how to know if it's your turn to place the drone for takeoff, etc.
- Remind students of these routines regularly, as it will take practice and is an important safety precaution to make sure students are not accidentally interacting in the flight area or the drone in an unsafe manner.
Students will need access to the contents of their VEX AIR Kit for this Unit. Specifically, the following:
- VEX AIR Drone
- VEX AIR Drone Controller
- USB cables
- Charging Hub
- A device with access to VEXcode AIR
A Note About the Role of the VEX AIR Simulator in This Course:
While this course is geared towards the application of skills learning in the simulator with the physical drone, students should be encouraged to continue to use the simulator throughout the course to test-fly missions or practice piloting skills or maneuvers. The simulator offers a safe environment for students to practice and build skills, and is intended to be used in conjunction with the physical drone throughout students' VEX AIR journey.
Standards Alignment
Common Core English Language Arts (CCSS ELA)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10/11-12.3 - Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10/11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grade level topics.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
- Empowered Learner – 1.1.c – Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
- Empowered Learner – 1.1.d – Students understand fundamental concepts of how technology works, demonstrate the ability to choose and use current technologies effectively, and are adept at thoughtfully exploring emerging technologies.
- Knowledge Constructor – 1.3.d – Students build knowledge by exploring real-world issues and gain experience in applying their learning in authentic settings.
- Global Collaborator - 1.7.c - Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.
Welcome to the VEX AIR Controller Flight Course, where you will apply all that you learned in the Virtual Flight Course to flying the physical VEX AIR Drone with the VEX AIR Drone Controller. In this course, you’ll explore real-world flight safely and with careful practice and precision, to building your pilot skills even further.
In Unit 1, you will take your first flight with the VEX AIR Drone! First, you will learn how to get your drone and controller ready, including charging, updating, and pairing. You will also learn about drone safety, and practice your first pre-flight checklist. By the end of this unit, you’ll be ready to start continue your flying journey with a physical drone. 
Vocabulary
In this unit, you will learn about getting your drone and controller ready for flight, drone safety and pre-flight practices, and you will takeoff for the first time. The vocabulary list is here to provide reference for key terms you may not be familiar with.
- Pre-Flight Check – A set of safety steps completed before flying to make sure the drone, controller, and environment are ready for flight.
- Takeoff Zone – A clear, designated area where the drone safely lifts off from the ground.
- Landing Zone – A clear, designated area where the drone safely returns to the ground and the propellers are locked.
- LED Indicator – A colored light on the drone or controller that shows status information, such as power, connection, or readiness to fly.
- Propeller Lock – A safety feature on the VEX AIR Drone that prevents the propellers from spinning until the pilot is ready to fly.
In this unit, you will learn about getting your drone and controller ready for flight, drone safety and pre-flight practices, and you will takeoff for the first time. The vocabulary list is here to provide reference for key terms you may not be familiar with.
- Pre-Flight Check – A set of safety steps completed before flying to make sure the drone, controller, and environment are ready for flight.
- Takeoff Zone – A clear, designated area where the drone safely lifts off from the ground.
- Landing Zone – A clear, designated area where the drone safely returns to the ground and the propellers are locked.
- LED Indicator – A colored light on the drone or controller that shows status information, such as power, connection, or readiness to fly.
- Propeller Lock – A safety feature on the VEX AIR Drone that prevents the propellers from spinning until the pilot is ready to fly.
Vocabulary is offered here so that you can create shared language around what students are doing and learning with VEX AIR in your setting. The key terms and definitions are reference, and can be augmented or adjusted as you see fit, to best meet the needs of your students.
Encourage students to use the correct terminology as they are learning and flying the drone, so that they can become familiar with terms and use them appropriately in conversation with each other and with you. You may want students to record vocabulary for the course, or keep a shared class glossary visible for all students, so that they can reference words and their meanings easily at any time.
Select Next > to move on to the next lesson.