Calvin Kinyon (left), Diamond Alexander and Courtney Dennis of the Vance County Victors show mixed emotions as they watch their drone landing.4-H teams from across North Carolina competed in the Game of Drones Robotics Competition this spring, sponsored by Cooperative Extension at NC A&T and held at the Lindley Recreation Center. The teens had to use their STEM skills in aerial and land-based drone coding to prepare for a quiz bowl.
4-H teaches youth to be leaders, but few 4-H members earn the distinction of “Ruler of Earth and Sky.”
Two teams of 4-H youth — one comprised of middle school students and one of high schoolers— won that distinction at an April 29 competition called Game of Drones, offered by the 4-H STEM program of Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T in collaboration with STEMerald City LLC, a Fayetteville-based organization that provides STEM tutoring and hands-on learning.
In the competition, named for the massively popular TV series Game of Thrones, they had the chance to show off their skills in coding and piloting drones after months of preparation that included learning coding and drone piloting techniques.
“It is vital that we provide opportunities for students that lack access to technology to participate and gain skills and exposure to concepts that will better prepare them for the future workforce,” said Misty Blue-Terry, Ph.D., 4-H STEM specialist for Extension at A&T. “Coding will be one of the most sought after skills as it cuts across so many different industries. This is a fun way to learn coding and see the results of your work.”
A 4H team member watches as his drone drops right outside the landing zone.
Three middle school and three high school teams competed in the event, held at Lindley Recreation Center in Greensboro. The teams and their coaches received all the materials needed to prepare for the competition, including drones and databots, programmable sensors that can be used with drones. On the day of the competition, they received instructions and participated in real-time coding. The teams then followed step-by-step instructions on flying and maneuvering their drones, earning points for the drones’ accuracy in following the commands.
The teams also participated in a quiz bowl, where they answered questions related to computer coding, technology, drones and agricultural science.
First place bragging rights went to a team of middle schoolers from Randolph County and a high school team from Forsyth County. Terry hopes to continue Game of Drones competitions every year, with an emphasis on reaching youth in minority communities and underserved North Carolina counties.
“We continue to introduce ways to develop computational thinking and coding skills in young people,” she said. “Drones are an engaging way to introduce coding, precision agriculture and so much more.
“This program has the potential to increase minority participation in coding programs beyond robotics.”
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Watch the Trailer, created by a 4H drone team member
