Students at Harold L. Richards High School put their drone piloting and coding skills to the test on Sept. 19 during an indoor competition hosted by the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NJROTC).
The competition was held at Richards, 10601 S. Central Avenue in Oak Lawn, and gave students an opportunity to improve their technical skills while learning the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.
“Students learn how to compete together as a team while improving their piloting skills and expanding autonomous coding experience,” said Master Chief Petty Officer George J. Melonas, a retired U.S. Navy serviceman and senior naval science instructor at Richards.
The competition introduced participants to the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation’s Mission 2027 Fast Track format, which combines drone piloting and autonomous coding.
The event included three main components: Mission 2027 field experience, including skills, team and autonomous demonstrations; judging rubrics and online team management; and qualifications and certifications.
Students and coaches participated in registration and training activities, including competition management, logbooks, judging rubrics and the VEX Code of Conduct. Participants also had an opportunity to learn about the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 unmanned aircraft pilot certification pathway.
More than 150 students and staff members participated in the competition, Melonas said.
The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation had more than 2,700 teams last year. More than 3,100 teams already had registered for this year, with participation projected to exceed 6,000 teams before February 2027, according to Melonas.
Richards sophomore Sebastian Lopez said he enjoys the creative possibilities of coding drones. He likes being able to program a drone to perform different tasks, from flying loops to playing music.
Fellow Richards student Megahn Taguinod said she enjoys flying drones and is using her experience to work toward an FAA Part 107 unmanned aircraft pilot certification.
The certification pathway gives students a chance to explore aviation-related skills and learn more about potential career opportunities.
Melonas said Richards has become a leader in aerial drone competitions throughout the Chicago area.