A leading STEM institution in the Netherlands has launched a comprehensive drone training and competition program, powered by Oriental Navigation’s Flying Loops Kit A, a full autonomous obstacle course solution designed for middle and high school education.
To support hands-on STEM learning, the school equipped students with visual programming tools (Scratch or Python) and introduced a real-world UAV challenge with precise navigation, AI vision recognition, and autonomous landing.
Autonomous Drone Challenge Format
Students were divided into teams to program lightweight drones (≤100g, ≤3-inch propellers, downward vision sensors) to complete a fully autonomous mission within a 6m × 4m × 2.7m inflatable arena. No manual control was allowed.
Mission Highlights:
- Flight Zones: Start zone, mid-course obstacles, and a landing zone
- Programming: Scratch or Python via tablets/laptops
- Obstacle Checkpoints: 6–8 per flight
- Visual Markers: Required for drone vision tracking
Flying Loops Kit A: What’s Included
This kit provides the essential building blocks for programmable flight missions:
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Landing Pad | 1 |
| Single Loop | 2 |
| Tunnel | 1 |
| Flag | 4 |
| Arch | 1 |
| Stacked Loops | 1 |
All components are modular, color-coded, and durable—ideal for repeated use in classrooms, training labs, or competitions.
Obstacle Scoring Breakdown:
| Obstacle | Score |
|---|---|
| Low Loop | 10 |
| High Loop | 10 |
| Tunnel | 20 |
| Flag | 10 |
| Crossed Loop | 25 |
| Multi-Flag Detour | 25 |
| Arch | 10 |
| Precision Landing | 5–10 |
Each team had two timed runs, with the higher score used for final rankings.
Add-Ons: Inflatable Arena and Inflatable Glowing Gate
To complete the drone training setup, the institution also purchased:
- 6×3×3m Inflatable Drone Arena: Durable, portable, and ideal for indoor events and competitions. Can be separated into two 3×3m fields for flexible use.
- Inflatable Glowing Gate: A continuously inflated, LED-lit gate used as a navigational obstacle and event backdrop. The glowing frame enhances visual recognition for drone AI tracking and adds visual impact to STEM fairs and tournaments.
These modular tools made it easy for staff to transport and assemble the arena in minutes and visually enhanced the competition environment. The school successfully hosted its first autonomous drone coding challenge, generating strong engagement from both students and the local STEM community.
Branded Customization: Vests and Visual Identity
To support team identity and branding, the school also ordered two sets of high-quality sports vests—one in blue and the other in orange-yellow—for student competitors. This enhanced the professionalism of the event and made team distinction easy for judges and spectators.
Results & Impact
Since launching the challenge, the program has delivered measurable outcomes:
- Over 80% of students express increased interest in drone coding
- Strong cross-department engagement from physics, IT, and robotics classes
- School administrators plan to scale the initiative to neighboring institutions
Why Choose Oriental Navigation?
As a leading one-stop STEM product manufacturer, Oriental Navigation offers:
- Modular drone coding kits, obstacle courses, soccer drones, inflatable arenas
- Custom branding support: logos, color matching, vests, LED gear
- Free curriculum & programming resources
- Event support: scoring systems, technical guidance, and shipping
Whether you’re planning a classroom program or a regional drone competition, Flying Loops Kit A and its modular accessories offer an accessible entry into the future of drone-based education.
Ready to launch your drone STEM journey?
Contact Oriental Navigation to get a custom quote and bring autonomous flight learning to your institution.
