Mission
For The Win Robotics focuses on fostering critical thinking and lifelong curiosity through the power of experiential STEM and computer science education.
How We Impact
More than 1,000 schools
Our work is expansive, reaching more than 1,000 schools across the United States. For the Win Robotics’ STEM and computer science programming is available for every education setting - from K-12 classrooms to college campuses, afterschool programs to summer camps, in-person classes to virtual or hybrid learning environments - and is implemented in the nonprofit, business, and government sectors.
Making STEM fun
With our Build Fly Code program, we have developed an innovative education system that offers educators new professional development opportunities while making STEM and computer science education fun for learners. Hands-on lessons incorporating both hardware and software, enable us to make the principles of flight theory, mechanical design, and coding accessible for learners of all ages.
Building essential skills
Our focus on experiential education means that we are constantly innovating to ensure our programs reach as many students as possible, including under-resourced students and those with different learning styles or abilities. By promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and curiosity, we are helping build essential skills today’s students need to become the workforce of the future.
More Than A Drone
When you purchase a Hopper Classroom Bundle, you not only invest in a best-in-class drone, you enter into a partnership with a company fully committed to helping educators further STEM and computer science education in all communities.
Our new Hopper drone is a fully 889-compliant system designed to be robust, reusable, and scalable for many years to come. Students learn STEM skills from building, flying, and coding Hopper in a safe educational environment. When students finish the experience, they disassemble their drones and prepare for the next group of students. In this way, the per-student cost of Hopper becomes a fraction of the initial purchase price.
We built technology into the drone that brings innovation to your classroom. Hopper discovers and learns what it is capable of alongside your students, continually evolving its capabilities over time We believe this is the smartest investment for the classroom.
Partnering with FTW means we will work with you to deliver the tools and programming you need to engage and inspire students. We welcome your feedback and regularly incorporate what educators say into our services and technology. This feedback loop ensures that together we positively impact as many students as possible.
FTW is a USA-based, secure end-to-end solution. Hopper is our design and technology. We manufacture Hopper with trusted partners. We write and maintain Hopper’s software and the FTWFly and FTWCode apps, and as new capabilities are released, your drone seamlessly updates. The Build Fly Code delivers a curriculum that is developed in-house and will continue to grow alongside Hopper. We promise to continue to expand the value and benefit of STEM programming to educators well into the future.
Thank you for the opportunity,
About Us
For The Win Robotics is home to Hopper®, a drone designed to revolutionize STEM and computer science education through its Build Fly Code® learning platform. This comprehensive platform includes drone hardware and software, computer applications, and fosters community and connection. It endeavors to offer instruction, resources, and experiential educational interactions for students and educators at all levels.
The core of Build Fly Code revolves around providing the means to build Hopper, alongside basic activities that introduce students to the fundamentals of flying and coding. Each software update brings new resources and challenges, leveraging Hopper’s advanced sensor suite. The curriculum is inspired by Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, showcasing real-world drone applications in fields such as search and rescue, aerial surveillance, precision delivery, and first response. Activities are designed to enhance skills in math, science, problem-solving, leadership, and communication, along with specific aviation knowledge from flying drones.
Updates and What's to Come
The upcoming software updates are poised to enrich the Build Fly Code experience significantly. By summer, the integration of Hopper’s camera feed into For The Win Robotics’ Fly App will unlock new activities. For the 2024/25 school year, further updates, including the addition of infrared and color sensors among others, will significantly expand Hopper's wide-ranging capabilities in real-world missions. Activities will delve into the workings of each sensor, the data processing logic, and feature more industries revolutionized by drones.
Lesson plans are set to evolve, supporting teachers at elementary, middle, high school, and higher levels to seamlessly implement a drone program. This progression starts with introductory units, extends to week-long summer camps, and culminates in semester-long courses covering a variety of CTE pathways such as IT, STEM, logistics, agriculture, construction, art, and A/V technology.
Build Fly Code is on a trajectory to enhance its offerings beyond basic drone instruction. New features will enable students to log flight hours, connect with peers, embark on projects, and enjoy gameplay. Collaborations with software companies and organizations aligned with For The Win Robotics’ mission will further extend the platform’s reach and applicability.
Additionally, our Build Fly Code Live event series will continue to develop as an experiential learning opportunity that reaches children of all abilities and backgrounds. For some customers, it may become a full drone design competition that challenges students to achieve their best results. This expansion reaffirms Build Fly Code’s commitment to providing a robust foundation for students pursuing career certification, drone licensing, or broader STEM and computer science skills through hands-on experience.
Rob Harvey
Executive Chairman + Cofounder
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Daniel Mehay
Chief Operations Officer + Cofounder
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Jennifer Nicholls
Chief Program Officer
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Allison Mehay
Head of Customer Experience
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James Perino
Program Manager
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Bob Ganton
XQC Engineering CEO + Founder
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Meet The Team
At FTW Robotics, our team's unique blend of music, military, and tech expertise fuels our innovative STEM education solutions, making learning accessible and fun for all.
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