Beurling Academy Robotics – “Drones Without Borders”
by Helena Tsitouras
Beurling Academy’s robotics club embarked on a ground-breaking drone project titled “Drones Without Borders”, showcasing the potential of drone technology in education. Under the guidance of robotics teacher Amandeep Mann, students from grades 8 to 10 delved into this innovation project involving drone piloting, photogrammetry, and 3D mapping. The result: an impressive 3D map of Beurling Academy’s campus.
The project found its start earlier this school year when Beurling Academy partnered with YulDrone, a local pilot school, where students received comprehensive training in drone technology, safety regulations, and piloting techniques. These lessons laid a foundation for their ambitious upcoming project.
For Grade 10 student Riley, working with the drones has been an exciting adventure. “My unique experience at Beurling robotics gave me confidence in drone piloting techniques like photogrammetry,” Riley explained enthusiastically. “I’m really looking forward to getting my drone license with Transport Canada this spring!” Riley’s experience exemplifies the empowerment that comes from hands-on learning.
Mann explained that the “Drones Without Borders” project seamlessly integrated into this year’s robotic theme, STEAM. The robotics team meticulously planned each phase of the project from mapping flight paths to using advanced applications for the drone to capture over 500 aerial photographs of the school’s campus. These images were then processed using software to generate detailed 3D maps. The students took it another step further by capturing FPV (first-person view) footage. These videos culminated in the creation of an immersive experience into spaces within the campus.
The innovative STEAM video projects were presented at the recent FLL (FIRST Lego League) competition, where the BA club received lots of praise for their impressive work. The success of the “Drones without Borders” project not only attracted attention within their school community but has also piqued the interest of other schools within the competition. Beurling is looking forward to sharing their knowledge and collaborating with other schools including those in the USA and others from Quebec.
Reflecting on his time in BA robotics this school year, Christopher, a Grade 9 student, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration within the club. “It’s been really great to work with the people around me in robotics and I am glad to have gotten close to them over the years.”
As Beurling Academy looks towards the future, their journey with drones has not only achieved new heights but has also ignited a passion for innovation and collaboration amongst students.
