FTW Robotics was featured in the May 2024 issue of STEM Magazine, spotlighting how drone technology is making advanced STEM education accessible to every Pennsylvania learner — regardless of background, zip code, or prior experience with technology.
The feature focused on FTW Robotics' work across Pennsylvania school districts, where the Build Fly Code® curriculum has been deployed as part of the state's broader push to modernize STEM and computer science education. Pennsylvania's PAsmart Initiative — established to provide students with the skills they need for the workforce of the future — has made FTW Robotics a key partner in delivering on that mission.
Breaking Down Barriers
One of the central themes of the STEM Magazine feature was access. Drone technology has historically been expensive, technically complex, and concentrated in well-resourced schools. FTW Robotics built Hopper® and the Build Fly Code® platform specifically to change that — creating a hardware-software system that is durable enough for real classroom use, affordable at scale, and designed to be taught by educators who don't have engineering backgrounds.
The results in Pennsylvania have been particularly striking in schools serving students from underrepresented communities. Teachers reported that students who had previously struggled with engagement in traditional STEM classes came alive when given a drone to fly and code. The tangible, mission-based nature of the curriculum makes the technology feel purposeful rather than abstract.
Competing on a National Stage
The article also highlighted Pennsylvania students who participated in Build Fly Code Compete events, where they flew and coded against peers from districts across the state and country. For many of these students, it was their first experience in a technology competition — and it sparked interest in pursuing drone-related careers in fields ranging from agriculture and construction to emergency response and national defense.
This article appeared in the May 2024 print edition of STEM Magazine. View the full digital issue at the link below.