Before You Begin

In this unit, students will learn about additional controls to move the virtual VEX AIR Drone using pitch and yaw controls on the VEX AIR Drone Controller. They will use pitch controls to move forward and backward and yaw controls to turn the drone to the right and left. By the end of the unit, students will apply what they learn to complete a flight challenge and fly through all of the yellow rings in a diamond path, as quickly as possible.

Be sure students have the following ready for use before you begin:

• A charged VEX AIR Drone Controller
• A USB-C cable
• A computing device with access to VEXcode AIR

Learning Objectives:

This unit is designed to introduce students to pitch and yaw controls in the VEX AIR Flight Simulator, to expand where they can fly the virtual drone. By the end of this unit students will be able to:

• Identify that pitch moves a drone forward and backward along the y-axis.
• Identify that yaw rotates a drone side to side around the z-axis.
• Describe drone movements in three-dimensional space using terms like pitch, yaw, and throttle.
• Demonstrate controlled forward, backward, and turning movements using the controller and the simulator.
• Combine pitch and yaw inputs to fly the drone to complete a challenge.

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.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. 

Model using terms like pitch and yaw in your own speech as you describe drone movements and controls during this lesson. Help students connect terminology to the physical movements of the drone by asking questions about how the drone is tilted while pitching forward or backward. Regularly using these terms in context helps students internalize their meanings and connect the vocabulary to real drone behavior.