Image courtesy of CODE313/Michigan Central/Newlab
Michigan Central, Newlab, and CODE313 teamed up to host Detroit’s second annual Youth Drone Demo Day, offering local students a hands-on introduction to cutting-edge drone technology. The event ignited curiosity and expanded career horizons, showcasing drones’ potential in aerial mobility, tech innovation, and coding. Through interactive workshops, Detroit’s youth were immersed in real-world applications, gaining valuable insight into the future of technology.
During the Youth Drone Demo Day, over 300 students from ages 7 to 17, representing 8 schools in the Detroit area, participated in aerial mapping missions and 3-D photogrammetry activities. This hands-on experience allowed them to witness firsthand the diverse and transformative applications of drones across various fields.
Image courtesy of CODE313/Michigan Central/Newlab
The students were given onsite training on important safety procedures and were taught the basics of assembling and repairing drones before they started operating them. This occasion was a major achievement as it was the first program to develop aerial mobility skills within Michigan Central’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Region, which was formed in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation in October 2023.
Clarinda Barnett-Harrison, the Director of Skills at Michigan Central, stressed the importance of involving Detroit’s youth in drone technology. She highlighted that this involvement goes beyond simplifying the complexities of drone technology and instead focuses on creating crucial opportunities for future careers in aerial mobility.
“Skills development is a core aspect of Michigan Central’s mission. As we strive to become a global center for mobility innovation, we must create the opportunities to attract both emerging and established innovators to Detroit while also providing our community with the tools needed for the jobs of the future,” Barnett-Harrison said.
CODE313, a nonprofit committed to ensuring fair access to STEAM education, provides foundational skills to local youth and families through interactive coding, enrichment camps, in-school and after-school programs, and workshops. The organization aims to cultivate a highly skilled workforce that meets employers’ needs. Its drone curriculum engages students in understanding the various applications of drones across different sectors and prepares them for future career prospects.
Bartel Welch, the founder and executive director of CODE313, mentioned that drones have great potential for growth and development as technology improves. This could include using drones to deliver medical supplies and food, inspect buildings and roads, and help with farming and search-and-rescue missions.
“It is important to expose our youth to these new career options they otherwise didn’t know existed. Today we are demonstrating the possibilities of drone technology and hopefully piquing the interests of students to become drone pilots in the future,” Welch said.
This year’s Youth Drone Demo Day featured indoor and outdoor hands-on learning experiences. Students explored the mechanics of drones, even assembling them piece-by-piece and learning how to fly them through an obstacle course that promoted precision flying. Drone-related work was also featured, with demos showing how drones can be used in agriculture work for water testing or in the entertainment business. CODE313 also showcased their new Drone Basketball program, a competition sport that gives students a fun way to fly drones in a team sports atmosphere.
Image courtesy of CODE313/Michigan Central/Newlab
Ty’Juan Johnson, a student at the Academy For Business & Technology in Melvindale, was excited to see the drones and to learn to fly them.
“Using drones in our everyday life would be a good thing. We can use them to do a lot of positive things,” Johnson said.
Supported by local businesses like DroneWorks and FutureTech, CODE313 plans for follow-up workshops that will delve deeper into coding and drone programming. CODE313 is also hosting free Drone Pilot Certification Training for students over 16 years of age at Michigan Central, as well as a 10-week Introduction to Drones camp for ages 12-15 years.
More information can be found at code313detroit.org/upcoming-events.