VEX AIR - Unit 2 - Flight Control in Three Dimensions

Before You Begin

In this unit, students will pilot the physical VEX AIR Drone using the VEX AIR Drone Controller, applying pitch, roll, and throttle controls. Building on their Virtual Flight Course experience with joystick mechanics, students will learn to navigate the Drone Dashboard interface. This dashboard provides real-time flight data that helps students understand the drone's position and movement patterns in three-dimensional space.

Learning Objectives:

This unit is designed to introduce students to the Drone Dashboard and provide them with practice flying the drone using pitch, roll, and throttle controls. By the end of the unit students will be able to:

Demonstrate controlled changes in Z Height using throttle inputs.
Demonstrate controlled forward and backward movement using pitch.
Demonstrate controlled left and right movement using roll.
Identify how to access the Drone Dashboard on the controller.
Identify how roll, pitch, and throttle movements relate to the x-, y-, and z-axes.
Use data from the controller screen to monitor flight information.
Apply a pre-flight checklist before a flight.

Environment Setup and Materials

Ensure that your flight area is marked, labeled, and students know the safety procedures for your space. Use the following articles to help you as you set up your space and ready your students for flight.

Setting Up your Classroom for Safe Flight with VEX AIR — Specific information and recommendations for setting up your flight environment are included in this article. Take time to review this article thoroughly and implement the setup recommendations.
Classroom Management for Teaching with the VEX AIR Drone — This article provides detailed information on how to maintain a safe, orderly flight environment when flying the drone.

Students will need access to the contents of their VEX AIR Kit for this unit, including charged batteries. For more information about charging batteries, see this article.

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.

Common Core Mathematics (CCSS MATH)

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP2 – Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4 – Model with mathematics.

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.
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.

Previously, you were introduced to essential drone safety features and procedures. You learned how to prepare your VEX AIR Drone for flight and used the VEX AIR Drone Controller to control the drone to take off and land. In this unit, you will apply more flight controls from your Virtual Flight skill set as you practice pitch, roll, and throttle movements with the drone. You will learn how the Drone Dashboard data corresponds to your flight controls and tracks the drone's real-time position.

The VEX AIR Drone Controller Screen showing the Drone Dashboard, with the center of the screen featuring the drone data like Heading, and x, y, z coordinates for the drone.

Roles and Responsibilities with VEX AIR

Flight safety is everyone's responsibility whenever you are working with VEX AIR. Part of creating a safe flight environment is establishing clear roles and responsibilities for students and adults. Everyone should have an assigned role for each flight, so that each person on a flight team knows where they should be and what they are responsible for before, during, and after a flight.

You will either be a pilot, co-pilot, or observer during a flight. You will stay in that role for the whole flight cycle – before, during, and after – then can rotate roles with other flight team members.

Pilot(s) - The student in the Pilot Station wearing the VEX AIR Drone Controller and actively flying the drone in the flight area.
Co-Pilot(s) - A student in the Pilot Station working with the pilot and visually monitoring the drone's position and battery level during flight.
Observer(s) - Any other students who are not piloting. Observers should stay within or outside the buffer zone, maintain awareness of their surroundings, and may be reflecting on or preparing for a flight.

Depending on your role, you will have different responsibilities before, during, and after a flight. Use these charts to help you identify responsibilities by roles, so the members of a flight team can hold each other accountable for safe flight practices throughout the flight cycle.

Before Flight

Adults and students are responsible for preparing for a flight. Adult responsibilities include designating an adult safety lead, checking the flight area, putting up signage as needed, and ensuring groups are on task.

Flight Team: Pilots & Co-Pilots	Observers
Review the mission/task together Talk through the flight plan Complete the pre-flight checklist	Move out of the flight area Prepare for your next flight with your flight team

During Flight

Everyone is responsible for maintaining a safe flight environment when flights are occurring. Adults are responsible for supervising the flight area and maintaining safety procedures.

Flight Team: Pilots	Flight Team: Co-Pilots	Observers
Disengage Propeller Lock when ready for takeoff Maintain control of the drone: Stay inside the flight area Fly the mission/task Activate the E-Stop if needed Land when battery levels are 10% or less	Maintain a visual line of sight on the drone at all times Help the pilot navigate Monitor battery levels of the drone and controller Alert the pilot if battery levels drop below 10%	Remain aware of your surroundings Stay out of the flight area and pilot stations Minimize pilot distractions
ALL: Calling “Cut” in the event of an emergency. Anyone (student or adult) may call out "CUT!" at any time if they see a safety concern during flight. All pilots must immediately stop flying when "Cut" is called.

Flight Team: Pilots

Flight Team: Co-Pilots

Observers

Disengage Propeller Lock when ready for takeoff
Maintain control of the drone:
- Stay inside the flight area
- Fly the mission/task
- Activate the E-Stop if needed
Land when battery levels are 10% or less

Maintain a visual line of sight on the drone at all times
Help the pilot navigate
Monitor battery levels of the drone and controller
Alert the pilot if battery levels drop below 10%

Remain aware of your surroundings
Stay out of the flight area and pilot stations
Minimize pilot distractions

ALL: Calling “Cut” in the event of an emergency.

Anyone (student or adult) may call out "CUT!" at any time if they see a safety concern during flight. All pilots must immediately stop flying when "Cut" is called.

After Flight

Once a flight is over, there are still things to be done. Adults are responsible for helping with battery checks, material storage, and alerting the next group that they can approach the flight area.

Flight Team: Pilots & Co-Pilots	Observers
Engage the Propeller Lock and retrieve the drone Remove the drone battery and charge it in the charging station Move out of the Pilot Station to reflect on the flight	Move to the Pilot Station when it is your turn Reflect on or prepare for a flight

Read this article for more details about roles, responsibilities, and safety procedures before, during, and after flight.

Vocabulary

The key terms below will be useful as you build your flight skills with the drone. The vocabulary list is here to provide you with a reference for terms you may not be familiar with.

Z Height — How high the drone is above the ground.
Instrument — A tool that gives information or measurements to help control the drone.
Drone Dashboard — A controller screen that shows important information about the drone, such as its position, speed, and altitude.
Lateral Movement — Side-to-side motion that occurs when the drone rolls left or right.

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Teacher Notes Enabled

Introduction