Flying the VEX AIR Drone indoors is a hands-on learning experience that requires clear roles, shared responsibility, and consistent safety habits. The strategies and guidance in this article are designed to help teachers and students understand how to prepare, operate, and wrap-up drone flights safely in an indoor learning environment. When flying, all students and adults present are responsible for maintaining a safe flight environment.
Flight Session Logistics
Just as with any project where student groups are sharing a central space, there are certain logistics and scheduling that teachers can do ahead of time, to ensure a smooth class period. The same is true for a flight session with VEX AIR. Thinking ahead about how students will move through your area, when and where they will be flying, and how students will know their roles can set everyone up for success.
Schedule Student Groups
If multiple groups are going to be sharing a central flight area, think about how much time your flight session is, and how much time each group can have to be actively flying within that time frame.
Post the schedule somewhere that students can see it as soon as they come in, so they know what to expect and when to be in the flight area, on deck waiting for their turn, or observing and engaging in other activities.
Establish Student Roles
When flying, every student should have an assigned role, so that all are clear on their responsibilities throughout the flight session. Roles include:
- Pilot - The student in the Pilot Station wearing the VEX AIR Drone Controller and actively flying the drone in the flight area.
- Co-Pilot - The second student in the Pilot Station supporting the pilot and visually monitoring the drone's position and battery level.
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Observer - Any other students in the group who are not piloting. Observers should stay outside of the buffer zone, maintain awareness of their surroundings, and may be reflecting on or preparing for a flight.
- Observers can and should be actively engaged throughout the session. Observer activities can include things like:
- Practicing a flight in the VEX AIR Flight Simulator.
- Reflecting and recording flight information on a Mission Log.
- Quietly planning a flight path with another student observer.
- Watching the flight area to see how other pilot and co-pilot teams are approaching the task at hand.
- Observers can and should be actively engaged throughout the session. Observer activities can include things like:
When establishing flight session practices, it can be helpful to assign roles to students as part of the session schedule. Be sure that all students in a group get to rotate through the roles throughout a session, or over several sessions, so that everyone gets piloting and co-piloting experience on a regular basis.
Fit to Fly
Before any flight, pilots check more than just their aircraft, they check themselves, asking an important question: Am I fit to fly? Being fit to fly means the pilot and co-pilot are focused, alert, and ready to follow safety procedures before taking off. A perfectly working drone can be unsafe if the pilots are tired, distracted, or rushing.
For student drone pilots, being fit to fly means students are focused, ready, calm, safe, prepared, and aware. Talk with your students about what fit to fly means in your context. Use the following prompts to help talk with students about how to know if they are fit to fly:
- Focused – I am paying attention and not distracted.
- Ready – I understand today’s task or mission.
- Calm – I am not rushed, frustrated, or overly excited.
- Safe – I am following all safety rules and procedures.
- Prepared – I have completed the pre-flight checklist.
- Aware – The takeoff and landing zones are clear.
It is always ok for pilots or co-pilots not to fly if something feels unsafe or unsure. Students can rotate between roles as needed in order to ensure they are only flying when they feel safe to.
Practice Safety Procedures
Safety First! Before anyone can takeoff, make sure that all students know and can carry out safety procedures. It is important that all students can act on safety procedures in the same way, so taking time to role play or practice together can help ensure that teachers and students have a shared understanding of how to fly safely. Safe flight procedures include:
- Engaging and disengaging Propeller Lock – Make sure students know when and how to use the Propeller Lock. The Propeller Lock can be activated both automatically and manually. See this article to learn more about the VEX AIR Drone Propeller Lock.
- Activating the Emergency Stop (E-Stop) – Ensure students know how and when to engage the E-Stop in the event of an emergency. Pressing the Propeller Lock and the Takeoff & Land buttons on the controller at the same time will stop all motors immediately, and the drone will fall to the ground. Talk through what constitutes an emergency during flight, and what to do once the E-Stop has happened.
- Calling "Cut" in the event of an emergency – Anyone (student or adult) may call out "CUT!" at any time if they see a safety concern during flight. All pilots must immediately stop flying when "Cut" is called. Pilots can engage the Emergency Stop (E-Stop) if needed at this time. Role play scenarios that would necessitate a "Cut" call to occur, and what each student role should do when "Cut" is called.
- Practicing safe entrance and exits – Avoid opening doors while drones are flying. Adults and students should knock and wait to be let in before entering a room where flights are in progress.
- Using the Pre-Flight Checklist – Make sure students are clear on how to use the Pre-Flight Checklist, and that they should perform those checks before every flight. To learn more about pre-flight safety checks, see this article.
Adult Responsibilities During a Session
During a flight session, supervising adults are responsible for maintaining a safe flight environment, routines, and procedures before any drone is powered on. It is important to think about not only the space you are in, but how adults and students will interact within that space to ensure smooth, safe, flying practices.
Before Flight
At the start of a VEX AIR class or session, teachers are responsible for making sure the flight area and people present are ready for takeoff. This includes:
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Designating a Safety Lead – If multiple adults are present, designate one as the Safety Lead. This person will be directly responsible for monitoring student flight safety and dealing with safety issues (in accordance with all school policies) as they arise.
- Be sure that students know who the Safety Lead is, so that they can direct questions or concerns appropriately.
- Checking the Flight Area – Make sure the flight area is clearly marked, stations and zones are labeled, and obstacles are cleared. To learn more about the recommendations for defining a flight area, read this article.
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Checking Signage – In addition to labeling spaces in and around the flight area, ensure signage is up to support safe drone activity, including:
- Drone activity in progress signs on doors and entrances to the space
- How to activate an Emergency Stop
- Maximum Z Height for your Flight Area
- Fit to Fly guidelines
During Flight
While drones are in the air, teachers and supervising adults should actively monitor students and the environment to ensure established routines and procedures are being followed, and students are responsibly engaging in flight activities.
Spread out adults in the area to help maintain focused supervision. The Safety Lead should be in the buffer zone or pilot station to monitor flights and piloting activities. Additional adults can be outside the buffer zone to engage with students who are not actively flying.
Call "Cut" in the event of an emergency. Anyone (student or adult) may call out "CUT!" at any time if they see a safety concern. All pilots must immediately stop flying when "Cut" is called. Pilots can engage the Emergency Stop (E-Stop) if needed at this time.
- In the event of an injury or emergency, the Safety Lead should guide adults in following school safety and incident response procedures.
- If a crash occurs, the drone should be inspected for damage – especially the propellers, frame, and the battery.
After Flight
Once flights are complete, teachers and supervising adults should make sure that spaces and materials are taken care of.
All VEX AIR Kit components should be returned to the cases. Cases and components should be stored in a cool, dry location between flight sessions.
Remove, Check, and Charge Batteries – Charge batteries so they are ready for the next flight. To learn more about battery charging best practices, see this article.
Student Responsibilities During a Session
In aviation, good judgment is a core skill. Students flying the VEX AIR Drone are expected to make safe decisions before, during, and after every flight. Each student will have one of the following roles for each flight: pilot, co-pilot, or observer. Ensuring that students understand their roles, and how to engage safely anytime they are engaging with VEX AIR is integral to successful learning.
Before Flight
Complete the Pre-Flight Checklist to ensure that you, your drone, and your space are safe and ready for flight. Pre-Flight Checklists can be found in all Mission Logs in the VEX AIR Controller Flight Course, as well here (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
During Flight
While flights are in progress, each role has its own responsibilities. All students, regardless of their role, are responsible for being aware of their surroundings at all times. Anyone may call out "CUT!" at any time if they see a safety concern during flight.
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Pilot responsibilities include:
- Disengaging Propeller Lock when ready for takeoff
- Maintaining control of the drone
- Do not fly outside of the flight area
- Keep at least 1m (3 ft) of space between drones in the flight area
- Avoid flying over or under other drones
- Let go of all sticks to hover if you lose control
- Activating the E-Stop if needed
- Landing when battery levels are low
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Co-pilot responsibilities include:
- Maintaining a visual line of sight on the drone at all times
- Monitoring battery levels of the drone and controller via the controller screen
- Alerting the pilot if the battery drops below 10%
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Observer responsibilities include:
- Remaining aware of surroundings while engaging in non-piloting activities
- Staying out of the flight area, pilot stations, and buffer zone
- Minimizing pilot distractions
After Flight
After landing, pilots should immediately engage the Propeller Lock. Pilots and co-pilots should then retrieve the drone from the flight area, remove the battery from the drone and charge it in the charging station. (If the battery is very hot, or swelling, immediately report it to the Safety Lead.)
They can then log their flight, and reflect on how their flight went. Students should use the session schedule to know which role or area they should move onto next.