‘Aero 404,’ GCISD’s Career and Technical Education drone team with students from Colleyville Heritage High School and Grapevine High School, is headed to the Advanced Vertical Robotics National Championship! The event will take place Friday, December 5, at the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center in Dallas.
Their team name is a pun on “404 Not Found,” the error when a server cannot connect to its source.
They earned their ticket to nationals based on their cumulative score and award over two qualifying competitions held on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 16. At the November 8 event, they were awarded the judges’ Exemplary Award, presented to the team that best demonstrates professionalism, passion and respect toward fellow competitors and event staff.
This year’s competition theme was “Clear the Beach,” which set the field to be a simulated hurricane-impacted coastline filled with debris, stranded animals and environmental hazards. The team’s task: pilot drones in the air and mini robots on the ground to complete strategic missions in the mock rescue operation that included preparation, coastal cleanup, cabin clearout and successful return home.
Part two of the competition was presenting their engineering design process and strategic approach for their mission to a panel of judges. Points awarded contributed to the team’s overall score at that qualifying event.
Let’s wish the team good luck at nationals!