Drone Soccer team takes off at Mohonasen
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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- People tend to spot drones flying high outside, but one local classroom has been using them indoors for a high-tech game. The team at Mohonasen High School is propelling the little-known sport to new heights with a little ingenuity, a few smart students, and a lot of teamwork.
Daniel Barnes explained, "I was kind of surprised when we started this class. I was thinking it was going to be a more traditional engineering class."
But in Mr. Rob Buehler's Engineering Design and Development class, Barnes does more than read from a textbook. "These drones do come unassembled. The kids have to put them together," said Buehler.
"It's not just looking at a packet of problems and doing math. It's like actually physically building the drones. Physically working with what you've built. And then modifying things based on what you've experienced yourself," Barnes said.
His classmate AJ Crux added, "Being able to brainstorm, work through certain problems develop different techniques in the game itself -- overall, it's a game of strategy."
The five-on-five game has one striker trying to make it through the other team's goal and four defenders.
"I want to be a mechanical engineer, so that design process for me is huge," Crux said.
The drones come unassembled in kits that cost around $600, and the students design and build the cage around it.
"There is a lot of planning that goes into it, and a lot of problem solving. That only helps us as engineers to be able to make real time adjustments in real life," Cruz explained.
The class has become so good at the game, the team qualified for nationals in May. They will be traveling to Rome, N.Y. to take part in the competition.