What Students Learn

Students learn the basics of search and rescue operations and how drones are used when locating individuals in dangerous or hard‑to‑reach environments. They examine how parallel track search patterns work, why they are effective when a person’s location is unknown, and how the Engineering Design Process guides the development of reliable aerial search strategies.

What Students Do

Students code Hopper to fly a parallel track search pattern across a 20' × 20' grid, using 5‑foot spacing between each pass to simulate an aerial search for a lost dog. They calculate Hopper’s speed, plan their search lines using the taped grid, and use loops to make their code efficient. Through testing and refinement, they apply the Engineering Design Process to improve accuracy and keep Hopper within the search area.