What Students Learn

Students learn the basics of wildfire behavior, how spot fires form, and why firefighters rely on drones for situational awareness. They discuss the roles of the Remote Pilot in Command, navigator, and visual observer, and examine how communication, control lines, and aerial imaging help firefighters detect threats before they spread. Through a real case study, they see how the Engineering Design Process supports safer and more efficient wildfire monitoring.

What Students Do

Students work in teams to fly Hopper over a simulated 400‑acre wildfire zone, using its camera feed to identify spot fires located outside the central control lines. While the RPIC flies, the navigator interprets the live video and marks the locations of spot fires on a scaled map, and the visual observers maintain safety around the fly zone. Teams rotate roles, adjust their strategy, and refine their communication to improve accuracy. An optional extension adds towers as obstacles that require more precise flying and coordination.