The SEAPERCH & DRONE TEAM
2024 - 2025 WE SEE OUR NEW NJROTC STEM PROGRAM FOR SEAPERCH AND DRONE TEAM TAKE TO THE AIR WITH FOUR (4) MEMBERS, TWO (2) MALE AND TWO (2) FEMALE MEMBERS THAT WILL COMPETE WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST IN OUR HISD DISTRICT, LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL STAGE.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has incorporated drones into various educational initiatives to enhance STEM learning experiences for students. Here are some key details about HISD's drone-related programs:
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Underwater Drone Project at Hartsfield Elementary School:
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Fifth-grade students at Hartsfield Elementary are conducting aquatic research using underwater drones (remotely operated vehicles) to explore marine biology.
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The project, called "The Hartsfield Hunters," is a partnership with the Houston Texans YMCA and HISD Foundation.
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Students learn to apply the scientific method, master essential vocabulary, understand oceanography fundamentals, and operate underwater drones.
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The project received a $17,500 grant from the HISD Foundation.
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Innovation Grants:
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The HISD Foundation provides Innovation Grants to support excellence in innovation and enhance school programs and curriculum.
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In March 2020, Booker T. Washington High School received a $7,000 grant for their "Payload Design and Fabrication for Sounding Drone Project".
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STEM Outreach and Partnerships:
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HISD has collaborated with various organizations to provide drone-related experiences for students:
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Trumbull Unmanned has supported STEM and drone-focused events for HISD students.
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The Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition partnered with Trumbull to involve 65+ HISD students in drone-related activities.
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Microsoft YouthSpark held an event focused on aerospace for Houston high schools, which included drone demonstrations.
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General STEM Strategy:
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HISD's STEM strategy includes supporting curriculum-based programs that excite students about STEM pathways, with drones being one such exciting technology.
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These initiatives demonstrate HISD's commitment to incorporating innovative technologies like drones into their educational programs, providing students with hands-on experiences in STEM fields and preparing them for future careers in technology and science.
THE SEAPERCH COMPETITION
SeaPerch is an underwater robotics competition where students design, build, and pilot Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The program challenges participants to create underwater robots using low-cost, easily accessible parts.
Key aspects of the SeaPerch competition include:
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Building ROVs: Students construct underwater robots from kits, learning about engineering, science, and robotics in the process.
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Pool Events: Competitions typically feature two main pool challenges:
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Obstacle Course: Tests high-speed maneuverability
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Mission Course: Involves tasks related to the competition theme, such as deep-sea exploration
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Technical Presentation: Teams present their design process and answer questions from judges
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Age Groups: The competition is open to middle school (grades 5-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students
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Advancement: Top-performing teams at regional competitions can qualify for the International SeaPerch Challenge
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Real-world Applications: The competition themes often relate to actual underwater exploration challenges, partnering with organizations like NOAA Ocean Exploration
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The SeaPerch program aims to develop student's skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and technical applications while fostering interest in marine engineering and ocean sciences
THE TRUST CERTIFICATION
Welcome to The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). This is the Federal Aviation Administration’s course for those who intend to operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly called “drones”, under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft ( 49 United States Code §44809). For the purpose of this course, the term “drone” includes a variety of aircraft such as remote controlled (RC) airplanes, RC helicopters, and quad-copters.
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Because drones can be very simple to fly, it is easy to think that there is little risk in flying one. The reality is that drones have collided with other aircraft, injured people, and caused property damage.
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That is why safety is everyone’s responsibility. This course is designed to provide you with basic information that will help you fly safely and keep our nation’s airspace safe for everyone.