Before You Begin
This unit introduces students to the different modules available for the VEX AIR Drone, and explores how modules enable the drone to interact with its environment. Students will explore the tradeoffs of each module, learn how the drone needs to move in order to interact with objects, and consider the factors involved in choosing a module for a task. Students will also examine the Passive Module and experiment with how to use it in flight.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
- Identify the three VEX AIR modules and describe what each is designed to do.
- Identify how modules attach to and detach from the VEX AIR Drone.
- Describe how adding a module affects the drone’s weight and flight performance.
- Explain why the drone should not be flown without a module attached.
- Identify the purpose of the Passive Module and describe how it uses gravity to pick up and release objects.
- Describe how module choice creates tradeoffs between stability, speed, and control.
Use this article to help you facilitate students' exploration of modules throughout this unit.
Environment Setup and Materials
Ensure that your flight area is marked and labeled, and that 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 — This article gives recommendations for creating a safe flight area in your space, and environment considerations to support safe flight sessions.
- Classroom Management for Teaching with the VEX AIR Drone — This article provides roles and responsibilities for before, during, and after flight.
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.
In this unit, students will be both manipulating the drone by hand and flying the drone to move cargo and orbit balls using the Passive Module. Ensure that you have the following for your flight area:
- 1 orbit ball
- 1 piece of cargo
- 1 basket or receptacle (for dropping off orbit balls)
- Be sure this is securely weighed down or anchored to the ground so that air turbulence from the propellers (or “prop wash”) from the propellers do not affect the drop-off location.
- 1 hook and loop surface (for dropping off cargo)
- This could include felt, higher pile carpet, or another hook and loop surface.
- Be sure this is securely weighed down or anchored to the ground so that air turbulence from the propellers (or “prop wash”) from the propellers do not affect the drop-off location.
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.
- 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.
In this unit, you will explore how the VEX AIR Drone can interact with its environment using modules. The VEX AIR Kit contains three modules — the Passive Module, Magnet Module, and Motorized Hook Module. Over the course of this unit you will explore the Passive Module in detail and how choosing a module requires you to consider different features and functionality that best suit the mission.
Vocabulary
The key terms below will be useful as you learn about using modules with the drone. The vocabulary list is here to provide you with a reference for terms you may not be familiar with.
- Passive Module — A non-powered module containing a magnet and a hook that uses gravity to manipulate objects.
- Magnet Module — A module containing a magnet with a mechanized flap to pick up and release objects when the flap is triggered by the controller.
- Motorized Hook Module — A module with a powered hook that can be raised or lowered during flight.
- Drag — The force that resists motion as an object moves through the air.
- Stability — The drone's ability to remain steady and controlled during flight.
The key terms below will be useful as you learn about using modules with the drone. The vocabulary list is here to provide you with a reference for terms you may not be familiar with.
- Passive Module — A non-powered module containing a magnet and a hook that uses gravity to manipulate objects.
- Magnet Module — A module containing a magnet with a mechanized flap to pick up and release objects when the flap is triggered by the controller.
- Motorized Hook Module — A module with a powered hook that can be raised or lowered during flight.
- Drag — The force that resists motion as an object moves through the air.
- Stability — The drone's ability to remain steady and controlled during flight.
Incorporate vocabulary into your conversations with students as they explore the modules. When you're talking about stability with students, you may also want to include terms like center of gravity.
- Center of gravity — The point where the drone’s weight is evenly balanced.
Augmenting vocabulary with additional terms can help build students' language around flight, and/or spark curiosity that extends to other subject areas as well.
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