Before You Begin

In this unit, students will continue to build their understanding of controls to move the virtual VEX AIR Drone using roll controls on the VEX AIR Drone Controller. They will also learn about two steering modes, standard and headless. They will practice these new skills by flying through the blue rings positioned on either side of the platform using both steering methods.

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 roll controls and steering modes in the VEX AIR Flight Simulator, to expand how they can fly the virtual drone. By the end of this unit students will be able to:

• Identify roll as the movement that makes a drone move left and right along the x-axis.
• Describe drone movements in three-dimensional space using terms like roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle.
• Demonstrate controlled movements to the left and right using the VEX AIR Drone Controller in the simulator.
• Compare headless and standard steering when flying a drone in the simulator.

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. 

As students are learning the vocabulary for various drone movements, one effective way to help them internalize the meanings of the words is to have them move their hands or bodies to match each motion. 

For example, students can tilt forward for pitch, rotate side to side for yaw, and lean left or right for roll. This will help them connect each term to a movement they can feel and remember.