Bits4Bots Academy Drone Obstacle Course

I still remember the first time I watched a classroom set of mini drones take off.

The excitement was instant. Kids were smiling, teachers were hopeful, and within seconds the room filled with that high pitched hum of propellers. But then something unexpected happened. The students just started flying back and forth. No direction. No purpose. Just drifting from one wall to the other, over and over again.

It wasn’t their fault.

There was no clear path to follow, no structured challenges, and honestly no affordable course to guide them. The drones were there. The interest was there. But the learning piece was missing. As a hands on maker, prototyper, and engineer, that moment stayed with me. I kept thinking, we can do better than this.

That experience is exactly why I created the Bits4Bots Academy Drone Obstacle Course!

As an engineer, I don’t just see drones as something that flies. I see physics in motion. Lift, thrust, drag, and balance all happening in real time. I see coordinate grids, measurement, and flight planning. These are not abstract concepts, they are things students can actually experience.

So I designed this course with that in mind.

The stickers and magnet scaled replicas were intentional. Students plan before they fly. They map out paths on grids. They think through movement, direction, and spacing. Then they test those ideas in the air. That connection between planning and outcome is where STEM clicks. It gives teachers a natural way to tie lessons back to state standards without forcing it.

This is not extra work for teachers. It is a better way to teach what they are already required to teach.

From a maker perspective, this is the shift I was hoping for. Students stop flying aimlessly and start thinking like engineers. They adjust, troubleshoot, and try again. That mindset is what sticks.

Safety is part of that foundation.

Every student is encouraged to complete the FAA TRUST certification, The Recreational UAS Safety Test. It is free and accessible, and it sets the tone early for responsible drone use. I have also started partnering with nonprofits to host drone workshops that help students earn their TRUST certification, creating more access for students who might not otherwise have this opportunity.

Learn more about TRUST here:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers/knowledge_test_updates

Take the test here:
https://trust.pilotinstitute.com/

For parents, this means your child is not just flying, they are learning responsibility.

For teachers, it means having a hands on, standards aligned tool that makes STEM real.

For school districts and organizations with grant funding, this is an opportunity. Bits4Bots is already built around hands on STEM learning experiences designed to engage students and promote engineering pathways to paid jobs with the FAA Part 107. Now, with drone workshops and TRUST certification built in, there is a clear path to implement a program that is safe, scalable, and meaningful.

I am actively looking to partner with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to bring these workshops to more students.

If you want to support this work or bring it into your classroom or organization, you can check out the Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bits4bots/1732830421?ref=7skq8u&token=5fc5470c

I think back to that classroom a lot. All that energy. All that curiosity. Students ready to learn. They just needed direction.

This course is that direction. It turns random flight into intentional learning, and gives students a real starting point into engineering, technology, and thinking differently about the world around them. 

Let's connect! Ask us about Fly Day's, demos, course rentals, or starting your own drone club.

-Larsha Johnson, CEO & Founder of Bits4Bots