9781422272886

Drones HIGH-INTEREST STEAM

HIGH-INTEREST STEAM

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Drones HIGH-INTEREST STEAM

ANDERSON STEPHENS

MASON CREST PH I LADELPH I A | MI AMI

Mason Crest PO Box 221876 Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4519-4 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4516-3 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7288-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stephens, Anderson, author. Title: Drones / Anderson Stephens. Description: Hollywood, FL : Mason Crest, [2022] | Series: High-interest steam | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2020010875 | ISBN 9781422245194 (hardback) | ISBN 9781422272886 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Drone aircraft–Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC TL685.35 .S74 2022 | DDC 628.133/39–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020010875 Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Editor: Andrew Luke Production: Crafted Content, LLC

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CONTENTS Chapter 1: SCIENCE IN DRONES ���������������������������������������� 7 Chapter 2: TECHNOLOGY IN DRONES ������������������������������� 21 Chapter 3: ENGINEERING IN DRONES ������������������������������ 35 Chapter 4: ART IN DRONES ������������������������������������������������ 49 Chapter 5: MATH IN DRONES ��������������������������������������������� 63 Further Reading ������������������������������������������������������������������ 76 Internet Resources & Educational Video Links �������������� 77 Index ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 78 Author Biography & Photo Credits ����������������������������������� 80

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR

Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the readers’ understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis.

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

autonomous— existing or capable of existing independently drone— a robot or vehicle that is not directly controlled by an onboard pilot obstacle— an object that blocks a path or hinders progress or completion of a task program— coded instructions executed via computer in order to perform a specific task submersible— designed to be operated underwater, capable of functioning while submerged

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CHAPTER 1

SCIENCE IN DRONES

Science and drones go hand-in-hand. In science, the most fundamental goal is to explore and examine the world and universe around us. Scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of how everything works, and how Earth and its entire species are affected by various stimuli. The more they understand, the more they are able to protect us from harm, strengthen our interdependent communities, and help us to advance and thrive. There are many areas of Earth and the universe that are completely unexplored. Drones offer scientists new capabilities to explore previously unmapped territory. They help to access new information and to make new discoveries. Drones have proven to be enormously beneficial to science in countless ways. WHAT IS A DRONE? The Wright brothers’ first flight at the start of the 20th century marked a new phase in human history. Since then, the number of aircraft in the sky has grown. More than 4,000 airplanes are in the air

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Modern drones have evolved to have dozens of uses, many of which involve performing tasks far more efficiently than humans can.

right now. While the majority of these planes have pilots and carry passengers, some do not. Simply put, drones are unmanned planes and ships, guided either by remote control or onboard computers. The most common type of drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A UAV is a flying robot controlled either by a pilot on the ground or by an onboard computer. Autonomous drones do not require a pilot to actively send directions. Instead, they are programmed to fly a set route. Some autonomous drones can change course along the way if they encounter problems or need to avoid obstacles . Drones are not limited to the sky. Divers and historians use submersible vehicles to explore shipwrecks, plane crashes, coral, and the many yet-to-be-discovered mysteries of the deep sea. Some aquatic drones are also used to fight climate change by cleaning and policing harbors. Aerial drones are also used to police harbors and find oil and chemical spills in the water.

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DRONES

Drones are capable of carrying objects and tools. Some have sensors and cameras, some deliver packages, and some execute military functions. The capabilities and functions of drones are numerous and continue to grow. Drone designs vary widely. One of the most recognizable flight designs has four upward-facing propellers, one on each corner of the craft. These drones, called quadcopters, have found uses in commercial photography, wildlife surveying, disaster relief, and farming. They are also used recreationally for hobby flying and competitive racing. Drones have greatly benefited scientific research efforts. Since they are able to travel to places humans cannot, drones allow scientific explorations that would be treacherous, or even impossible otherwise. Drones can survey dangerous places without risk to the operator. When a deadly earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in 2011, they caused a nuclear disaster. Numerous nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant were severely damaged, leaking lethal levels of radiation into the atmosphere. To survey the damage and measure radioactivity, scientists sent drones and other equipment into the danger zone. The data gathered by this equipment provided crucial information about damaged reactors. Scientists could pinpoint where the damage occurred and how extensive it was. This allowed them to strategically plan for repairs to the power plant without being exposed to dangerous radiation. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS

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SCIENCE IN DRONES

Drones are valuable assets in places where it is unsafe for humans to go, such as disaster areas.

Drones can also cover far more ground than crewed survey missions. Due to this, drones are valuable assets to scientific studies and environmental surveys. Since some drones use airplane engines, they are able to cover vast distances. Scientists use these drones to measure erosion of coastal lands, the shifting and changing of glaciers, and the evolution of riverbeds. The information they gather helps them to assess and address the effects of climate change. The ability to observe wildlife, plant growth, and erosion patterns allows conservation effort resources to be used where they are most needed. In 2019, environmentalists used drones to measure the extent of Amazon rainforest fires. Drone pilots were

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DRONES

In a situation such as a wildfire, drones can quickly give firefighters a cost- effective overview of the extent of the flames they are trying to control.

able to inspect and record the natural disaster from a safe distance. Environmental groups intend to use drones extensively in the restoration of the Amazon rainforest, both in stopping fires and in planting new trees to regrow the forest. Drones are used to inspect forests and find forest fires. Sensors in the drones and algorithms programmed into the drones’ computer systems detect heat from fire and smoke, drawing attention to fires early on when they’re easier to stop. This provides firefighters a more accurate picture of each fire and allows them to prepare appropriate resources. Environmental groups have also used drones to track endangered animals and combat poaching. Air Shepherd, a group that protects endangered wildlife in Africa, uses drones to spot and track poachers. Air Shepherd equips their drones with infrared

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SCIENCE IN DRONES

Environmental protection groups use drones to track herd movements of endangered species.

cameras that can track heat signatures of poachers. It then relays this information to local authorities that can intercept and arrest poachers. Other groups have used drones to steer animals away from poachers when danger is close. The far-reaching capabilities of drones allow them to cover a rough terrain that is otherwise not easily accessible. Additionally, drones allow scientists to track populations of endangered species. This provides information about the animals’ diets, their habits, and their habitats that aids scientists in conservation efforts. Equipped with advanced sensors and tools, drones are able to collect data on anything from unusual changes in the oceans’ temperature, to the thickness and size of glaciers, to the herd sizes and migration patterns of animal populations.

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DRONES

Watch as scientists commission the use of a drone to survey an arboretum so they can map all of its trees.

SPACE EXPLORATION Drones have found uses beyond surveying the Earth. NASA scientists are developing a variety of drones to aid with space exploration and research. Drones are crucial in space exploration because they allow dangerous and unknown environments to be explored without endangering human life. Scientists use the information gathered by these rovers to make observations about our solar system. Some people speculate that the information gathered during Mars missions might help in determining if humans could colonize Mars in the future.

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SCIENCE IN DRONES

TYPES OF SPACE EXPLORATION DRONES Scientists use three types of drones to collect information about the Martian surface: orbiters, landers, and rovers. As their name suggests, orbiters orbit the planet but never land on it. As they orbit, they take pictures of the planet and send them back to NASA

NASA scientists use drones to collect data and samples from outer space and from other planets.

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DRONES