When the team at Makeblock was designing a drone system their first requirement was a system that would teach programming and STEM concepts. They also wanted a drone that could be affordable, programmable, and modular. The company’s current drone system, Airblock, is currently enjoying a successful campaign on Kickstarter.
My favorite feature of this drone is the magnetic attachments that allow users to take the six honeycombed propeller blocks and build them into different shapes. This allows for different drone configurations but the campaign videos also show land vehicles and a special attachment that transforms the craft into a hoverboard that flies on land or water.
Airblock’s body pieces are made of a dense foam that surrounds the blades and gives the freedom to fly the drone inside. The connectors themselves have four magnets in a square shape for connection, and connector pins in two axes for electrical contact.
The system uses a tool called mBlock to teach programming, a visual block based language based on Scratch. The control app will be available on Android and iOS, but neither version is out yet. Joystick controls are available or user-created buttons can be added to the app for specialized maneuvers.
Airblock has a smaller range than most drones in terms of control range (10 meters) and height (5 meters), with an estimated 6 minute battery life for flights. Each module is equipped with a six axis gyroscope, and ultrasonic and barometric sensors.
This feels like a great project for beginners, and another one of the dozens of user-friendly drones that are popping up to really bring UAVs to everyone. I also appreciate Makeblock’s commitment to creating projects that are fun and entry level with an eye focused on teaching STEM and programming. The campaign ends on December 14, 2016 and first units are expected to ship in February, 2017.