Build, Control and Fly: Mini-drone Activities

The project aims to engage a diverse range of young people in interactive learning experiences with a focus on control engineering. High-school students will have the opportunity to explore, construct, program, and operate small aerial drones in the form of a hands-on workshop. In addition, captivating drone flight demonstrations will be conducted to educate the broader public.

Organizer:

Junaid Ahmed Memon, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford

Sponsoring IFAC Body:

TC 9.4 - Control Education

Description:

We will design a drone-based workshop: a hands-on session in which students will receive detailed instructions on assembling, programming, and flying mini drones. These engaging activities will equip participants with essential knowledge in drone construction, programming, and operation. It will also cover basic control engineering concepts of feedback loop. There will be a short but comprehensive kick-off presentation delivered by one of our team members, to ensure all students have the knowledge needed to complete the activities. Staff and demonstrators will be on hand to support throughout.

The drone workshops will play a vital role in outreach activities at Oxford that target underrepresented groups, including girls and students of Black African and Caribbean heritage and students facing socioeconomic disadvantages.

Additionally, during Open Days at Oxford, which attract around 2400 visitors annually, the project will feature interactive lab demonstrations to showcase engineering concepts to members of the general public.