Flight control, flight control — get ready for take off
- By Holly Kellogg NAWCAD Director of STEM and Education Outreach
The NAWCAD unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Educational Program (USEP) is looking for volunteers to mentor local high school quadcopter teams in the tri-county area. The USEP is specifically interested in individuals with unmanned systems experience in engineering and programming.
Additionally, each team will require a safety pilot who is experienced with radio control (R/C) flight of helicopters or quadcopters. If you have UAS or R/C experience, contact Bill Geyer, USEP mentor coordinator, at william.geyer@navy.mil or call 301-757-5057.
As teams are identified, the USEP mentor coordinator will notify volunteers, via email, when and where there will be an information meeting containing more details about the program and duties.
Teams generally meet one day a week for one to two hours. Additionally, mentors will receive online and in-person training on assembly, safety and tips on how to mentor. It is anticipated that there will be several meetings for all mentors from the end of October through May.
The first year NAWCAD pilot quadcopter program was well received by the community. This school year the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has packaged the quadcopter program into a national program and competition. For more information about the AMA national quadcopter program, visit <http://uas4stem.org/>;.
