Grades 6-12+

The Fly with Python Digital Textbook

12 missions of scaffolded, standards-aligned Python curriculum - paired with the CodeAIR autonomous drone. Students program navigation, computer vision, and machine learning through projects where real flight is the ultimate test. Unforgettable STEM experiences for grades 6 and up.

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From First Line of Code to Autonomous Flight

CodeAIR is the first educational drone where student code flies onboard - an open platform for creative exploration of the sensors, motors, and software that make drones fly. Students learn real Python while building programs that control a real aircraft.

Across 12 missions, students progress from blinking LEDs to programming autonomous flight with laser range sensors, flow-based navigation, computer vision, and even building their own ground control station with a CodeX controller. Every concept is tested by actual flight - the drone either holds altitude or it doesn't, navigates the course or it doesn't. The hardware is honest - and overcoming that honest feedback is where real confidence comes from.

87 objectives. 27 quizzes. Hundreds of guided coding steps. Each mission includes interactive CodeTrek walkthroughs, built-in hints, and automatic goal validation. Note: the Machine Learning with TensorFlow Mission Pack is coming soon as an advanced add-on.

Mission-by-Mission Breakdown

Each mission is a hands-on drone project that teaches new Python concepts through the CodeAIR. Click any mission to see its objectives.

Mission 1: Welcome 4 objectives, 1 quiz
Mission 1: Welcome

Take a tour of the CodeSpace development environment. Students learn how the text editor, Toolbox reference, and simulation controls work before writing any code.

Key concepts: CodeSpace IDE, text editor, Toolbox, simulation

Objectives

  1. Mission Objectives
  2. Text Editor
  3. Tool Box
  4. Simulation Controls
Mission 2: Introducing CodeAIR 10 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 2: Introducing CodeAIR

Get to know the CodeAIR drone! Students explore the hardware - static electricity safety, the CPU, power switch, and USB connection. Then they connect to CodeSpace and light up the LEDs with their first Python program.

Key concepts: Hardware orientation, static safety, USB connection, LED control, CodeTrek

Objectives

  1. Behold the CodeAIR
  2. Static Electricity
  3. Find the CPU
  4. Power Switch
  5. Connect the USB
  6. Link to CodeSpace
  7. Save the Code!
  8. The CodeTrek
  9. Light's On
  10. More Lights
Mission 3: Pre-Flight Check 8 objectives, 3 quizzes
Mission 3: Pre-Flight Check

All systems GO for takeoff? Students test out basic Python coding to control CodeAIR's lights and sounds - learning loops, LED patterns, and color control while building their pre-flight checklist.

Key concepts: Loops, LED patterns, RGB color, sound output, pre-flight procedures

Objectives

  1. Lighting Beacon
  2. Loop de Loop
  3. Light Cycle
  4. Fancy LED Fix
  5. Wild Blue Yonder
  6. In Living Color
  7. Sky Lights
  8. Aero Lights
Mission 4: Flight Safety 6 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 4: Flight Safety

Good drones don't jump into the sky unexpectedly! Students code a safety interlock system with debouncing, countdown timers, motor tests, and custom functions - ensuring CodeAIR stays grounded until the pilot is ready.

Key concepts: Safety interlocks, debouncing, countdown, functions, motor control

Objectives

  1. Arm
  2. Debounce
  3. Countdown
  4. Motor Test
  5. Functions
  6. Torque
Mission 5: Hovering Flight 10 objectives, 3 quizzes
Mission 5: Hovering Flight

Take off! Students get their drone in the air for autonomous hovering and explore the laser range sensors - building obstacle detection, flight ceilings, hall monitoring, and an escape bug algorithm.

Key concepts: Autonomous hover, laser range sensors, obstacle detection, altitude control

Objectives

  1. Modular
  2. Hover
  3. Moving Forward
  4. Quadcopter Sensors
  5. Back Off!
  6. Flight Ceiling
  7. Theremin
  8. Hall Monitor
  9. Obstacle Detection
  10. Escape Bug
Mission 6: Navigate 7 objectives, 3 quizzes
Mission 6: Navigate

Navigate the skies using CodeAIR's flow sensor for ground-based positioning. Students fly square patterns, learn rotation control, build selectable flight operations, and become test pilots for their own code.

Key concepts: Flow sensor, positioning, rotation, battery monitoring, selectable operations

Objectives

  1. Positioning with Flow
  2. Square Up!
  3. Rotate
  4. Battery Check
  5. Selectable Ops
  6. Crash Testing
  7. Test Pilot
Mission 7: Multitasking 6 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 7: Multitasking

Unlock true drone multitasking! Students use the task scheduler to run multiple independent code sequences at once - from sensor checks to output signals - solving the blocking problem that limits sequential code.

Key concepts: Task scheduler, concurrent execution, blocking vs non-blocking, sensor reflexes

Objectives

  1. Task Master
  2. Juggling Two Tasks
  3. The Blocking Roadblock
  4. The Non-Blocking Fix
  5. Sensing While Scheduling
  6. Simple Sensor Reflex
Mission 8: Drone Director 6 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 8: Drone Director

Apply state machines to direct aerial sequences while running background tasks in parallel! Students build flight recorders, formal state systems, and a complete drone director program.

Key concepts: State machines, flight recording, parallel tasks, program architecture

Objectives

  1. Tasked Flight
  2. Flight Recorder
  3. Flight Fix
  4. Formal States
  5. Keep It Steady
  6. Drone Director
Mission 9: Attitude Control 8 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 9: Attitude Control

Feel the forces of flight! Students go hands-on with the gyroscope to build a haptic feedback system, chart drone attitude, detect dips, and discover the secrets of drone stability through multi-axis control.

Key concepts: Gyroscope, attitude angles, haptic feedback, multi-axis control, stability

Objectives

  1. What's Your Angle?
  2. The Gyroscope Discovery
  3. Charting Your Attitude
  4. Painting with Physics
  5. Dip Detector
  6. Feel the Force
  7. Multi-Axis Corner Control
  8. Spin Cycle
Mission 10: Survey 5 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 10: Survey

Develop a cutting-edge mapping drone! Students use CodeAIR's sensors to autonomously survey the landscape - taking measured moves, going wide, and collecting distance measurements.

Key concepts: Autonomous survey, measurement, grid navigation, data collection

Objectives

  1. Closer Look
  2. Measured Moves
  3. Go Wide
  4. Corner 2
  5. Measurement
Mission 11: Reconnaissance 6 objectives, 2 quizzes
Mission 11: Reconnaissance

Master CodeAIR's camera to gather visual intel! Students learn frame grabbing, aerial photography, position tracking, and waypoint-based navigation to fly precise reconnaissance routes.

Key concepts: Camera, frame capture, aerial photography, waypoints, planned navigation

Objectives

  1. Frame Grab
  2. Selfie Cam
  3. Aerial Photography
  4. Position Tracking!
  5. First Waypoint!
  6. Spycraft
Mission 12: Telemetry 11 objectives, 3 quizzes
Mission 12: Telemetry

Want a remote controller for CodeAIR? Build it yourself with Python! Students create a ground control station using a CodeX as a controller - with pixel art displays, live instrument panels, radio communication, and analog stick control.

Key concepts: Radio telemetry, instrument panels, analog control, ground station, CodeX integration

Objectives

  1. Ground Control
  2. Pixel Art
  3. Instruments Panel
  4. Altitude and Airspeed
  5. Live Gauges
  6. Pair Up
  7. On the Air
  8. Comms Check
  9. Analog Sticks
  10. Cleared for Takeoff
  11. Remix: Custom HUD

Resources & Links

Video Library Teacher Resources Standards Alignment Safety & Compliance Free Sample Lesson

Ready to bring drone programming to your classroom?

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