MassRobotics hosted our 8th annual hands-on, one-week Drone academy designed to inspire and educate the next generation of technology enthusiasts. High school students from diverse backgrounds gathered to immerse themselves in cutting-edge technologies, guided by industry experts.
The Drone Academy is a program designed by Brown University and commercialized by Duckietown. The academy, sponsored annually by Amazon Robotics, provides students with a week of hands-on learning.
During the week, students learned how to assemble their own drones from the ground up. They tackled a series of tasks essential to building and programming their own drones, honing their skills in soldering, wiring electronic components, and integrating sensors. This foundational work taught them not only about drone hardware, but also instilled patience, precision, and problem-solving skills – while ensuring students understood both the theoretical and practical sides of drone technology.
Throughout the program, students connected with STEM mentors and industry professionals over lunchtime fireside chats, gaining valuable insights into careers in robotics, engineering, and technology.
Mid-week, participants entered the build-and-test phase, interfacing with their drone’s onboard computers via the Linux terminal. This segment of the academy focused on coding, calibrating, and preparing for real-world drone flight, offering critical experience in programming, navigation, and systems integration.
Thank You to Our Partners and Mentors
We are grateful to our partners for making this year’s academy possible:
- Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics – For your sponsorship and hands-on support.
- Brown University and Duckietown – For your ongoing contributions to our curriculum and program development.
- Industry professionals and guest speakers – Your presence and stories inspired our students and gave them a glimpse into what their futures could look like.
Special thanks to:
- Brown University: Stefanie Tellex, Ivy He, Brandon Montoya, Dylan Pallickara, and Sergio Orozco
- Posse Foundation: Jocelyn Santos & Yinnette Sano
- Greensight: Maria Kloiber & Emily G
- Revolute Robotics: Leo Valdez, JT Thomforde, Brian Sahagian, Joseph Kasango, and Samuel Oubala
- Maglev Aero: Ian Randall
- RAI Institute: Jenny Barry and Katie Hughes
Drone Academy is more than just a summer program – it’s a launchpad for future engineers, roboticists, and innovators. We’re proud of every student who took on this challenge and came out with new skills, new connections, and a new sense of what’s possible.
Until next year – fly high!