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J Term 2018 Week 2

Week 2 Schedule

Day 4, Jan 1/16

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

  • Current event/Drone in the news presentation
  • Final Project discussion
  • Photogrammetry Lab

Afternoon Flight Session:

  • Mather Quad data collection
  • Athletic Fields
  • Chapel

Assignment:

  • Photogrammetry Lab result and write up

Day 5, Jan 1/17

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

  • Current event/Drone in the news presentation
  • Mapping with Arc GIS lab

Afternoon Flight Session:

  • Lab time to work on Photogrammetry assignment, GIS assignment or final projects. (Snow day so no flying outside and we were getting bored inside the field house)

Day 6, Jan 1/18

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

  • Current event/Drone in the news presentation
  • Airspace and weather deep dive

Afternoon Flight Session:

  • Final project data collection flights all over campus

Day 7, Jan 1/18

Project Presentations

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J Term 2018 Week 1

Week 1 Schedule:

Day 1, Jan 1/8

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

Afternoon Flight Session:

  • Flight simulator practice on FPVFreerider
  • Learn the basics with the Syma X5C in the field house

Assignment:

Day 2, Jan 1/9

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

  • Current event/Drone in the news presentation
  • FAA rules and regulations
  • Recreational/Hobbyist rules
  • Part 107 rules

Afternoon Flight Session: Mission 1 Earn Your Wings

  • Mission briefing
  • More practice with the Syma X5C in the field house
  • Outside LSC first flights with the DJI Phantoms and Spark

Assignment:

Day 3, Jan 1/11

Readings/Videos

Morning Class Session:

  • Current event/Drone in the news presentation
  • More rules and regulations
  • Airspace
  • Weather and METARs
  • Writing a flight plan

Afternoon Flight Session: Mission Dronie

  • Mission Briefing
  • Athletic fields
  • Long walk

Assignment:

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J-Term Drone Course

We are excited to announce that our J Term Course has been approved!

Instructor: David Tatem, Instructional Technologist

Hartford from 300ft over Trinity. DJI Phantom 4 Pro

Drone Flight School – Making maps safely and responsibly with drone technology

Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) or drones have quickly emerged as a new way to explore the world around us. Emerging applications include surveying, search and rescue, scientific research and unmanned cargo. Mapping via drones is a growing field as drone imagining technology is compatible with desktop mapping software. Responsible drone usage requires knowledge of FAA regulations especially in urban areas where local air traffic could be impacted. This hands-on course will introduce students to UAS technology and all participants will learn how to fly drones safely and responsibly. They will then use the drones and associated imaging software to construct maps on and/or Trinity College campus.

We are planning on combining classroom instruction with hands on flying and applications. We will cover topics including

  • UAV history, development and applications
  • FAA regulations and safety
  • Basic flight procedures and creating automated flight paths
  • Aerial Imagery and Videography
  • Photogrammetry and Mapping

Week 1 Schedule

Week 2 Schedule

J Term 2018 in review (coming soon)

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Drone Club First Meeting

The Trinity College Drone Club met for the first time last weekend. After an overview of the draft campus policy and a safety briefing we went out to fly.

If you are interested in drones come join us. You don’t have to own a drone, we will let you fly ours. Whether you are interested in cinematography, mapping, FPV racing or anything else drone related we’d be happy to have you. Sign up here. 

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Getting Started

Drones, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) , UASs (Unmanned Aerial System), RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft),  quads, whatever you want to call them are taking off at Trinity.

Over the Summer a UAS Committee was formed to start drafting a campus drone policy which will outline how, when and where drones can be used on the Trinity College campus. We solicited feedback and input from many constituents on campus including, Campus Safety, the Dean of Students Office, Risk Management, Communications, Athletics as well as students and faculty.

The committee had to consider FAA regulations that require any commercial operations to be conducted by FAA Certified Remote Pilots, airspace considerations, insurance and liability issues, privacy and basic safety when flying on a congested urban campus. Since the Trinity Campus is located in Brainard Airport’s Controlled Class D air space no commercial flights can be allowed on campus until we receive an FAA Airspace waiver which is in process. Recreational users are permitted to fly as long as they follow published guidelines which require pilots to:

  • Fly at or below 400 feet
  • Be aware of airspace requirements and restrictions
  • Stay away from surrounding obstacles
  • Keep your UAS within sight
  • Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
  • Never fly over groups of people
  • Never fly over stadiums or sports events
  • Never fly near emergency response efforts such as fires
  • Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol

In the end we hope to craft a policy that will allow students, faculty and staff to utilize drones for teaching, research, recreation and college promotional materials while ensuring operations are conducted safely and legally.

Are you a student interested in joining  the Trinity College Drone Club? Let us know here.