The inaugural South Plains Drone Competition kicks off with the first of five contests beginning at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 13, at Lubbock High School. The awards ceremony will begin at noon.
Students from Coronado, Monterey and Lubbock High Schools will be participating in five levels of competition. The contests include flight drills/skills, an obstacle course, target practice, programming, and search and rescue.
Flight drills/skills tests competitors in time trials for performing flight maneuvers. The participants can earn points for speed and effectiveness in the obstacle course. Mini drones will be used for target practice at various heights and distances. Using the application program interface of their choice, participants will have the drone perform a creative flight routine in the programming contest. Search and rescue will involve pilots flying their drones through the building to find a hidden “victim” and deliver an Epi-Pen, with the mechanism to carry and deploy being designed by the team.
The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run until 12 p.m. and will be based in the old cafeteria at Lubbock High School. Parking is available on the north and east sides of the building outside the new cafeteria. Entry can be made through the north doors on the east end of the campus.
(News release from Lubbock ISD)
