Throughout this course, you've learned a great deal about how to fly the virtual VEX AIR Drone in the VEX AIR Flight Simulator. Now you're going to put your skills to the test as you fly through your most complex mission yet! Your goal is to use the VEX AIR Drone Controller to fly through all the rings on the field as quickly as possible. To prepare for your flight, you'll develop a flight plan, practice and refine it, then take flight to balance speed and precision in real time.
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Before taking off, pilots create a flight plan to map out their route, controls, and potential challenges. Planning helps pilots fly more efficiently, avoid mistakes, and stay safe—especially for missions with multiple movements or obstacles. In this challenge, you'll use the same approach real pilots rely on before every flight. You'll develop, practice, and refine your flight plan in preparation for your mission.
Mission: Ring Flight Challenge
Fly through all the rings on the field (including the ring tunnels on the floor) as quickly as you can with as few collisions as possible, then land back on the platform. Apply everything you've learned about drone control and your piloting preferences to complete this challenge successfully.
This mission will take planning and practice to complete. You will follow a multi-step process to help guide you through the challenge. Be sure to take your time through each phase of the process. All phases of the process are included in the Mission Log.
Use the Mission Log to record your progress through the challenge.
Google Doc / .docx / .pdf
Phase 1: Develop a Flight Plan
Success requires strategic planning. Before you fly, map out your approach: choose your primary route, identify backup options, and develop tactics to minimize collisions while optimizing your speed and efficiency.
Use the Phase 1 section of the Mission Log to document your flight plan.
- Your flight plan should describe the path you intend to fly. This plan includes things like where the drone will fly, the order of the rings, and the maneuvers needed to complete the path.
- Use the legend in the Mission Log for reference to help you communicate your plan.
- Document your decisions and why you chose that approach. Explain why you chose this path to try first and what advantages you think it gives you in the mission.
Pro Tip: Look back at your Mission Logs to get data about your flying in different paths, and use that data to inform you decisions about your plan.
Check in with your instructor to share your flight plan before moving on to the next phase.
Phase 2: Practice Your Plan
With your plan ready, it's time to test it. Practice flights reveal whether your strategy is viable and help identify needed adjustments.
Practice flying your flight plan and record your flights in the Phase 2 section of the Mission Log.
- Document the same way you have in previous missions in this course. Note things you want to change in your plan.
- Record any changes made to the path as you practice.
- Practice multiple times so you can evaluate how effective your flight is in the next phase.
Remember, the goal of the mission is to balance precision and speed. Flying quickly but with lots of collisions is less successful than a slower time with fewer collisions.
Check in with your instructor after you have completed and documented at least five practice flights and are ready to move on to the next phase.
Phase 3: Refine Your Flight Plan
In real-world flight, flight planning is iterative, not one-and-done. Now that you have data and documentation about your performance from practicing, you are ready to refine and adjust your plan to optimize it for the challenge.
Use the Phase 3 section of the Mission Log to document your flight plan adjustments.
- Record any changes to the path based on practice. You can sketch or write a new route description based on your practice.
- Document why you are making those changes, and what data you used to inform your decisions.
- For example: Changing the sequence of rings helped me eliminate collisions because…
- Note any pilot preferences you want to make sure you're using throughout the flight, such as camera views or steering modes.
Check in with your instructor to share your refined flight plan before going back to practice your new flight plan or moving on to the Challenge Mission.
Phase 4: Fly the Ring Flight Challenge Mission
You've planned, practiced, and refined your strategy—now it's time to fly the Ring Flight Challenge Mission! Your goal: fly through all the rings as quickly as you can with as few collisions as possible. Follow your flight plan and document each flight. Complete multiple attempts, focusing on eliminating collisions and improving your time with each run.
Use the Phase 4 section of the Mission Log to record your flights.
- Record each flight and note areas where you could improve speed or accuracy.
- Document strategies for challenging sections, such as where to slow down or how to apply multi-axis movements for smoother navigation.
- Track your flight times and aim for the shortest time with the fewest collisions.
Pro Tip: Identify areas or rings where you're repeatedly colliding. Try switching camera views in those sections to get a better perspective on the drone's position relative to the rings.
Select Return to Units > to move on to the next unit.