Crystal Lake Central High School pilots robotics, drone technology class

CRYSTAL LAKE – Standing outside the tennis courts at Crystal Lake Central High School, students in John Dominici's robotics and drone technology class watched as one drone flew nearly 50 feet into the air and then crashed.

"This is why we go with Parallax," Dominici said to the class as he explained how the brand of drone was durable and designed to be used by students.

Before the crash, a handful of drones built by students buzzed around the courts as the high schoolers stood safely behind the fence with the remotes controlling the drones. Normally, students fly in the gym, but Thursday’s 70-degree and sunny weather prompted the outdoor flying lesson.

This was the first year the semesterlong class was offered in Community High School District 155.

The goal is to not only teach students how to build drones and the subsystems they’re made of, but also to provide a glimpse into a career path that the students might not have even known existed, Dominici said.

“These kids are the first kids in the district to even take a class like this,” Dominici said. “And the fact that they get to come out with knowing the interworking of a drone, and how to fly them and own them – it’s a really amazing thing.”

Students followed step-by-step instructions provided by Parallax for assembling the quadcopter drones, and they had to work through problems that came up along the way.

It took about nine weeks to build the drones in small groups and to learn how they worked before students started flying them, Dominici said. Students picked up the flying quickly, he said, which can be challenging considering the drones change orientation in the air.

“Assembling something like this, you think you wouldn’t be able to, but it’s so cool that we are,” 17-year-old senior Jordan Peters said.

Peters said that in addition to being fun, the class helped him realize what drones can be used for, such as surveying land, helping with construction and roofing inspections, delivering food and taking photos.

“I’ve never really done anything with drones,” 15-year-old sophomore Donnie Harden said. “… And when you tell people about it, they don’t even know the class is here.”

Dominici teaches two classes, each made up of 18 boys.

Next school year, the class will be offered at one other District 155 high school that has not yet been determined, and by the 2018-19 school year it will be offered at all district high schools, said Robert Hewett, Crystal Lake Central’s industry and career division leader.

The cost of the drone kits, supplies and training is about $8,500, and it’s expected to cost an average $100 to $350 a year to maintain and upgrade the program, he said.

It was Hewett’s idea to start the robotics and drone technology class.

The class helps reinforce the high school district's digital electronic engineering program, and builds off the science and technology-based FUSE program for the middle schoolers and Project Lead the Way for the elementary students in Crystal Lake Elementary District 47, Hewett said.

The hope is to expand the program and offer an additional advanced-level course where students are designing, manufacturing and building their own drones and robots, Hewett said.

“We know that drone and robotics technology is becoming a primary skill of the future,” Hewett said. “And we want to help kids be prepared for the future.”