VEX AIR - Unit 6 - Movement Modes - Lesson 1: Different Movement Modes

Now that you have practiced flying the VEX AIR Drone with multiple controls, you are ready to explore movement modes. In this lesson, you will use the VEX AIR Flight Simulator to experience Precision, Balanced, and Performance modes firsthand. You will compare how each mode affects the drone's speed, control, and stability.

Watch this video to learn more about:

How to change movement modes on the VEX AIR Drone Controller.
How each mode affects the way the drone flies.
Considerations for choosing a movement mode.

Hover & Discover

Stability assist helps keep the drone steady and controlled during flight, particularly in Precision and Balanced modes. The VEX AIR Drone's built-in Inertial Sensor detects orientation changes and automatically makes small adjustments to keep the drone level and flying smoothly. For example, if wind pushes the drone off course, stability assist corrects the movement without requiring an immediate pilot response, maintaining safe and stable flight.

In Performance mode, stability assist is disabled. The drone responds directly to pilot inputs, providing experienced users with greater speed and control. However, this requires quicker reactions and more precise handling.

Mission: Flight Mode Circuit

In this mission, you will test each movement mode by flying through all of the blue rings, starting and ending on the platform. You will record data on each flight, to see which mode allows you to quickly fly through the four blue rings with as few collisions as possible.

An aerial view of the Rings layout in the VEX AIR Flight Simulator, with the four blue rings, one in each corner at various heights, highlighted.

Follow these steps to complete your mission:

Connect your controller to VEXcode AIR and select the Simulator tab. Refer to this article about using the VEX AIR Flight Simulator for more detailed instructions.
Fly the drone using Precision mode first. Fly through all four blue rings and land on the platform.
Use the Mission Log to document your flights (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf). Record the movement mode used and any challenges it presented.
Use the drone settings menu to switch the movement mode to Balanced. Repeat the flight path with the new movement mode. Refer to this article for help with switching the movement mode.
Record your data on the Mission Log as before.
Repeat the flight path using Performance mode and record your data once again.

As you complete this mission, pay special attention to how changing movement modes alters both the speed and precision of your flight. Complete the steps of the mission multiple times so you have multiple data points about each movement mode.

Real World Connections

In real-world drone operations, pilots choose different movement modes based on the task they need to complete and the environment they are flying in. Understanding how Precision, Balanced, and Performance modes affect a drone’s movement is an important part of flying safely and effectively, whether in a simulator or with a real drone. Logging hours in a flight simulator allows pilots to practice each movement mode, build muscle memory, and develop the control needed to fly safely, using the best movement mode for the mission at hand.

Two drone operators, both wearing hard hats and one holding a controller, watch a drone as it flies towards a line of wind turbines.

Precision mode is commonly used when safety and accuracy are most important. For example, inspectors use precision flying when checking bridges, wind turbines, or buildings, where slow and steady movement helps avoid contact with structures. Precision mode is also used during indoor flights, such as warehouse inspections, where even small mistakes could cause damage.

A drone flies over a frozen lake that is surrounded by snow covered mountains.

Balanced mode is often used for general operations and training flights. Farmers and environmental researchers frequently use this mode to survey fields, monitor crops, or track changes in land over time. Balanced mode allows the drone to move efficiently while still maintaining stability and control, making it ideal for longer flights and skill development.

Five drones race around a track in close proximity to one another.

Performance mode is typically used in open spaces where speed and quick responses are needed. Search-and-rescue teams may use faster movement modes to scan large areas quickly when time is critical. Performance mode is also used in drone racing and testing, where experienced pilots use highly responsive drones.

Check Your Understanding

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