04 March 2024

The world has changed a lot in the past 150 years, but have our classrooms?

How can we close the gap between a booming, bustling tech sector and K-12 Education?

DroneBlocks has formulated the coveted answer, and discovered so much more along the way. 

DroneBlocks is a pioneering STEM Education company that has been instrumental in democratizing drone technology and fostering programming skills by developing engaging curriculum and software to pair with cutting edge hardware like Drones and Robotics.

In short, DroneBlocks puts Drones in classrooms, and students in control!

In recent years, the integration of drones into dozens of fields has sparked innovation and transformed traditional approaches to tasks like aerial photography, inspections, deliveries and even search and rescue missions. We’ve seen the rise of Drone Racing Leagues and consumer hobbyist droning—putting drones in kitchen table conversations.

Just before Drones really took off, DroneBlocks was founded by a small group of Drone enthusiasts who recognized the potential of drones as educational tools. Pairing Drones with math, science and coding made them more than just a hobby or a buzz word—it made them a real educational asset.

This was the easy part!

The real challenge was understanding the complexities of the classroom, and being sure Drones could, and would, be embraced by teachers and students in everyday environments. The challenge was accepted and thus, DroneBlocks was conceived as a solution to simplify the learning curve and make drone programming accessible to all.

One of the standout features of DroneBlocks’ coding app, is its user-friendly interface that is designed for learners of all ages and skill levels. Through its proprietary block-based programming environment, users can drag and drop commands to create autonomous flight missions, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. This intuitive approach has made drone programming engaging for students from elementary schools to universities, providing hands-on learning experiences in robotics, coding, and aerial technology. DroneBlocks has also paired itself with the leading Drone Hardware on the market, which includes the DJI Tello and the Bitcraze Crazyflie.

The true magic of DroneBlocks lies not only in the code, but in the learning it sparks. In classrooms around the globe, students are building drones and becoming architects of the sky, crafting flight missions that transcend what could be charted on a graph with pen and paper. Students are exposed to the latest and greatest technologies that prepare them directly to work with industry standard programming languages such as Python, ROS, C++, JavaScript and more. Students also walk away with piloting skills and certifications that can be applied professionally in the aviation, droning or robotics fields.

Through collaboration with educators, DroneBlocks has become a cornerstone of STEM curriculum, nurturing the innovators of tomorrow with hands-on experiences that exceed the confines of traditional learning. Concepts that once seemed abstract become tangible as students watch drones zip and flip around their classrooms. For so many, DroneBlocks is a bridge between theory and practice, but most of all - a heck of a lot of fun!

DroneBlocks’ vast curriculum ranges from mathematics to machine learning, and offers interdisciplinary learning opportunities that captivate students and prepare them for future careers in technology and innovation. All while engagement is the name of the game…the allure of drone technology transcends boundaries, igniting a passion for learning and exploration among teachers, students, parents and administrators.

DroneBlocks’ flagship product package is its Autonomous Drone Level II Kit, which includes a small fleet of programmable CrazyFlie drones in tandem with the full suite of DroneBlocks applications and curriculum offerings. The Crazyflie replaces the discontinued DJI Tello which was previously the top dog in the classroom for the last 6 years. The Crazyflie was chosen not only because of the major benefits it has as a vehicle including size, weight and speed…but because students learn the basics of assembling a drone, and it delivers a much higher level of accuracy, as well as an impeccably seamless Bluetooth connection with the all new DroneBlocks web app and simulator.

DroneBlocks has also grown its platform to embrace a rounded and robust STEM offering that includes:

- Drone and Quadruped Simulators - Test and Run your Drones or Quadruped Robots in a virtual sandbox, using DroneBlocks Coding Applications. 

- FPV Racing Drone Kit for Schools - Start your own drone racing team with this kit of FPV drones, goggles and curriculum!

- Commercial Drones - Put enterprise-grade Drones in the hands of your students and pair it with the best FAA Part 107 curriculum offered in the world. Get your students FAA certified fast and trained on real world applications.

- Drone Light Show Kits - Elevate your school's events and get your students engaged in creating their very own drone light shows. Kits available for indoor and outdoor applications from DIY to professional platforms. Available in kits from 10 to 100!

- Quadruped Robotics - Going from the air to the ground, DroneBlocks is integrating one of the most advanced ground robots available for research and development into high school classrooms. DroneBlocks has partnered with an MIT Researcher to build an incredible curriculum around this “robot dog.”

Assembled around DroneBlocks’ cutting edge hardware is an impressive catalog of accompanying curriculum. Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have recently propelled the company's Coding Curriculum offerings towards broader horizons. Courses are created by a roster of working Industry Professionals, that ensures industry adjacent teachings and methods of coding, programming, engineering and mathematics. All DroneBlocks lessons are video led, filled with demonstrations, activities and challenges. Courses even include lessons in harnessing ChatGPT to interface with your Drone or Robot!

DroneBlocks continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, building a new classroom Drone unlike any the world has ever seen. Looking forward, the DEXI, or the Drone for Exploration and Innovation, will be the premiere Build, Fly, Code package that is entirely built and offered by DroneBlocks exclusively, compatible with the open source PX4 software. This Drone is currently in its prototype phase and will be released and ready to ship in Spring of 2024!

Today, DroneBlocks has developed into the world's leading STEM hub, with a vibrant user community and far reaching global collaborations. With DroneBlocks, the only limit is your imagination. And maybe a few FAA regulations…but who's counting?

To learn more about DroneBlocks and the full gamut of its offerings, visit the DroneBlocks Blog Library.

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