Computational Thinking PO2

This activity is another indoor drone activity.  The aim is for the students to plan to shortest, ie the quickest path from start to fininsh by passing through four gates and then programmng their drone to follow this path and timing it.  To find the shortest route the students will have to do some investigations into which path would ensure that all four gates are passed through, but are all the paths the same length?  Obviously there will be a pay off between speed and accuracy, the closer to the cones the drones are as they corner, the shorter the path, but the faster they are travelling might mean that accuracy of distance travelled is compromised.  This should be a good investigation comprising length and speed.

This investigation could be further enhanced through the inclusion of other data such as BBC Micro:Bits or Arduino and sensors such as light gates and LEDs to make visual indicators that the drone actually passes through the gate.  In addition light gates could also be set up at the launch and landing sites to measure accurately the time for each lap.

To use this resource, simply make a copy of this resource and rename it so that you become the owner of it then adapt it to meet the learning needs/intentions of your students/planning.  If you want us to make more of this kind of resource please contact us at david@dakinane.com and we will make more resources to share with you, related to your need.