Airbattles is a yearly drone competition that is designed and built by the Frenship Robotics Team, Iron Tigers FRC#5866. This competition started three years ago with the aid of the Texas Tech University Whitacre College of Engineering and was brought together with the support of the Evelyn Davies Endowment.
On December 9, teams from Levelland, Seminole, Lubbock-Cooper, Frenship, as well as some home-schooled students, converged at Frenship High School to compete. The Iron Tigers intentionally incorporate this competition into their off-season schedule to help spread STEM education across the district and to the younger generation in the area.
“The Iron Tigers operate and run the whole event,” stated James Holloway, the Iron Tiger coach and Frenship High School engineering teacher, “They enjoy getting to work with the younger students and fuel their same passion for STEM.”
Each year has a different theme, this year the high school team chose a space theme "hyperspace". Competitors had to run the polliwogs through a channel with their spacecraft, maneuver through a low channel Kessel run, attempt to maneuver a nebula ring or an asteroid belt, then escape the pillars of Tatooine, completing the course running the red polliwogs through another channel. Then teams could decide to take on the BLACK HOLE, where one pilot and one spotter could work together to navigate the pilot to land blindly on a landing pad behind the blackout curtain.
The Airbattles competition has two divisions, Elementary and Middle School. After a tough day of competition, three teams from each division were awarded a placement, as listed below.
Elementary Division
1st Place: Seminole Elementary
2nd Place: Home Tribe
3rd Place: Seminole Robotics
Middle Division:
1st Place: Seminole Robotics
2nd Place: Hub City Patriots - Lubbock-Cooper
3rd Place: Home Tribe
While Airbattles is an exciting competition for anyone to get involved in, learning to fly drones encompasses various educational aspects, from STEM principles and programming to practical applications in geography, photography, and environmental science.
Holloway stated that competing in Airbattles provides a hands-on and engaging way to explore different disciplines and develop valuable skills for the future. Holloway went on to explain the specific benefits in learning to fly drones for the overall education for the students.
Drones are technological devices that involve the application of engineering and technology principles, fostering an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Students are learning to understand the principles of flight, lift, thrust, and drag, which contributes to a foundational knowledge of physics and aerodynamics. They calculate flight paths, distances, and angles that involve practical applications of mathematical concepts.
Some drones allow users to program flight paths and behaviors, introducing concepts of coding and programming to the students. They are creating algorithms for autonomous flight that require them to utilize their logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Pilots must make quick decisions while flying, considering factors like weather conditions, obstacles, and equipment status, while overcoming challenges such as wind, interference, and technical issues.
Additionally, students who continue to practice and develop their drone flying skills will learn to understand more concepts that will aid their overall education. Students can learn about geography, mapping, photography, and videography through the use of drones equipped with cameras.
Going on to fly drones outside the competition courses, students can learn to understand airspace regulations and safety guidelines. Pilots must assess potential risks and make informed decisions, fostering a sense of responsibility and risk management.
“What's amazing is before the students even realize it, they have learned and/or are learning all these aspects just by being a part of Airbattles.” said Holloway.
Learning to fly drones opens possibilities for careers in fields such as aerial photography, cinematography, surveying, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue.