Patient First Sponsors Inaugural Aerial Drone Program at Western Branch High School

Things are taking flight at Western Branch High School! This past fall, Patient First gave a donation to the Chesapeake, VA-based school that helped launch the Aerial Drone REC Program. This program takes a comprehensive approach to digital literacy by offering students hands-on experience with flight systems, controls, and the integration of coding to enhance machine learning and operations.

While Western Branch’s traditional robotics program remains strong within the classroom, this new initiative extends into extracurricular activities, focusing specifically on drone technology and programming. Through this program, students gain knowledge of flight rules, systems and controls, equipping them with skills applicable across various industrial sectors. But that’s not all. Students also enhance their coding abilities by using Python and other adaptive interfaces, as well as collect data from robotic sensors, manage drone readiness, ensuring functionality and battery maintenance.

All of this has been made possible through the donation from Patient First, which enabled the school to purchase three drones, and cover the expenses for protective cases for each drone, as well as batteries, spare parts, obstacles, and more. With all the right pieces now in place, students have been able to practice in a competition-like setting as they raise additional funds to attend the competitions.

Christian Tynch, Technology Education Instructor at Western Branch High School, said ” Thank you for helping us support robotics and drone technology at Western Branch High School!” This is just one of the many ways Patient First stays engaged with our community!