INSIDE RACING DRONES A lot of parts go into racing drones First there’s a radio-control system It includes a computer motor antenna and propellers The antenna receives signals from a control box The computer figures out the command from the box It then tells the motor how to turn the propellers to move the drone Second there’s a first-person viewing FPV system A camera is mounted on the drone A headset transmits what the camera sees Finally it needs a power source A small powerful battery provides electricity to the drone’s systems The green drone speeds across the finish line The pilot takes off his virtual reality goggles and jumps up and down He has just won his first Drone Racing League DRL drone race This is the world of hobby and competition robots THE DRONE RACING LEAGUE In 2015 Nicholas Horbaczewski saw his first drone race People have been flying Nicholas Horbaczewski shows off a drone to promote the Drone Racing League he founded
DESIGNING ROBOTS THE DRONES AND RACE COURSES OF THE DRL The DRL builds the drones used for each race Drones in DRL races travel approximately 80 miles per hour 130 km h The drones are all built the same This means that no drone has an advantage The pilots must rely on their flying skills to win The DRL also builds its own courses Courses are made up of LED hoops and obstacles They are built in abandoned buildings and stadiums around the world During the DRL’s first international championships in 2017 the course was constructed in a London palace that was originally built in 1873 remote-controlled aircraft for decades However these aircraft were different Pilots wore first-person viewing FPV headsets allowing them to see from a camera mounted on the drone’s body It was like being inside the drone as it flew Horbaczewski wanted to organize a drone racing sport Pilots would race in different courses around the world Viewers could watch the races on TV or the
High school students make repairs to their robot during an exhibition internet like other sporting events He came up with the Drone Racing League The first series of DRL events was held in 2016 The events attracted 28 million viewers In 2017 that number grew to 75 million for this fast-growing sport WHAT ARE HOBBY AND COMPETITION ROBOTS Robots are an important part of society They work in factories and hospitals Robots help humans solve problems They make great toys They even
