VEX AIR - Unit 5 - Mission-Ready Modules - Lesson 1: Module Overview

In the Virtual Flight Course, you were introduced to the modules on the VEX AIR Drone as you flew to interact with objects on the field. In this lesson, you will learn more about what the three modules are, what movements are needed to interact with objects using each module, and the tradeoffs associated with choosing a module for a mission.

Watch the video below to learn about:

Why you should always fly with a module attached to the drone.
How modules enable the drone to interact with the environment.
What the three available modules are, and the tradeoffs associated with each one.

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Hover & Discover

When you add a module or carry an object, you increase the drone’s weight, which can affect the way the drone flies. Extra weight can impact battery life and the drone's center of gravity.

Battery life — Extra weight means the motors use more power to keep the drone in the air. When the motors work harder, they use more battery power, which can shorten flight time.
Center of gravity — Adding weight and carrying objects can shift the center of gravity, or the point where the drone's weight is balanced. If that balance changes, the drone may feel less steady and require smoother, more controlled movements to stay stable while flying or hovering near objects.

Mission: Module Exploration

The goal of this mission is to focus on the way the drone needs to move in order to successfully manipulate objects with each of the modules. Follow these steps to complete the mission:

Set up a testing area with orbit balls (shown on the left) and cargo (shown on the right) that can be manipulated by the modules.
Attach one module to the drone. Move the drone by hand to pick up and release the objects.
Record how you need to move the drone and/or module in order to successfully pick up and drop each object in your Mission Log (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
Repeat this process for each of the other modules.

Real-World Connections

In professional drone operations, pilots and mission planners must decide exactly what equipment a drone will carry before takeoff. For example, a drone used for infrastructure inspection might carry a high-resolution camera, while a search-and-rescue drone might carry medical supplies. Each added tool or payload increases weight and changes how the drone flies.

A drone carrying first aid supplies attached to its base flies through the sky.

Commercial drone pilots and aviation teams calculate how payload affects stability, flight time, and battery use before every mission. If a drone is carrying extra equipment, pilots may shorten the flight path, reduce speed, or swap batteries to ensure the mission can be completed safely. Real drone professionals balance performance and payload to make smart, mission-ready decisions, just as you will do when flying object-oriented missions.

Check Your Understanding

Select Next > to move on to the next lesson.