Drones and the Future of Elementary and Secondary Schools
Overview The utilization of drones in an educational setting is a concept that is increasingly taking center stage. Technological developments and the advancement in drone usage have seen up to 59.1% of educational institutions introducing drones to their curriculum. This guide explores the use of drones in elementary and secondary schools, key benefits, potential challenges, and drone safety. Various reports indicate an increased drone acceptance rate by students, with about 80% of learners expressing an interest in drone-related activities. However, the transfer to drone-based learning comes with certain concerns; topmost being safety and supervision.
Benefits of Drones in Education Advanced drone technology is becoming a must-have tool in our schools today. With over 50% of the schools integrating drones in teaching technology, computer science, and various STEM-related fields, it is clear the educational sector stands to reap immense benefits. Drones have been proven to improve student engagement, offering a hands-on learning experience. Educators attest to a significant improvement in creative learning and problem-solving skills among students who regularly interact with drones.
Challenges of Drones in Schools Despite the multiple advantages, incorporating drones into the education system is not without challenges. Only 16% of the educational facilities have clear drone policies, raising a security concern. Additionally, the level of technical expertise required to supervise drone operations and the high costs of acquiring and maintaining drones are significant barriers for many schools.
Drone Safety in Education The mitigation of the various drone risks has been a challenge for many schools. According to the School Safety and Security Council, less than 10% of schools have a comprehensive drone safety management system that is compliant with the FAA regulations. To this end, necessary precautions must be instigated to ensure student safety while handling drones.
Key Takeaways - Drones are rapidly becoming an integral part of school curricula with a 59.1% adoption rate. - About 80% of students show increased interest and engagement in drone-based activities. - A lack of drone policies and technical expertise are the primary challenges, with only 16% of schools having clear guidelines. - Safety remains a key concern, with less than 10% of schools having a comprehensive drone safety management system.
About 3Laws Robotics 3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to enhance the safety and reliability of robotic systems in multiple industries, including education. We understand that certification is a significant pain point for many robotics companies—including those that produce drones—and aim to simplify this process through our software, 3Laws Supervisor.
3Laws Supervisor provides robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, potentially easing the certification path. The software is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a groundbreaking technology developed at Caltech that offers mathematically provable safety. Our technology has a wide range of applications, from warehouse automation—where an autonomous forklift customer achieved a 40% efficiency gain, to human-robot interaction and dynamic environments.
At 3Laws, we focus on minimizing downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. Our solutions allow for real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, enabling robots - including drones - to operate closer to their peak capabilities while maintaining safety. Compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2, 3Laws’ software is adaptable and can work with a diverse range of platforms. Thus, we position ourselves as a next-generation safety solution that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods, offering a proactive approach to safety that can unlock the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety that can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.