UTEC engineering students learn piloting a Phantom

This week, sophomores in Electronic Engineering at the Universidad de Ingeniería & Tecnología (UTEC) learned how to fly a Phantom Drone, an unmanned aircraft, in order to learn how it functions and to make modifications to suit custom applications. The aircraft, which was acquired by the university, flies from 10 to 15 minutes and has a GoPro full HD camera that records images in real time.The videos and images captures by this drone will be used for digital image processing, as well as in map registration. "We are still acquiring these types of technologies and mechanisms so that students can operate them during semester projects that are carried out at UTEC from the first semester. We seek to encourage the individual learning of new topics and reinforce the knowledge acquired in classes. This unmanned technology not only teaches students about its operation, but also allows them to build," said Emir Vela, Ph.D., professor at UTEC. Characteristics of a Phantom Drone1. Attractive aerodynamic design, integrated with a GoPro full HD camera.2. Easy to fly in GPS mode: Made with easy to use hardware and software.3. Has a remote controller and a receiver which provides a reliable communications link.4. Stable performance: The proven stability of the autopilot system lets you easily achieve great flight performance.5. Autopilot system.6. Maximum flight speed of 10m/s.7. High intensity LED lights to ease orientation.8. 10 to 15 minutes of flight.