MIX Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping
The MIX Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping (Drone) Short Course is a 10-week hands-on short course where students learn UAV fundamentals and advanced manufacturing through drone prototyping. The series returns for Fall 2026, building on five successful cycles. Sponsored by KEEN, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, organized by the MIX, and taught by GMU Robotics PhD Candidate Aniket Anand Datar, advised by Professor Xuesu Xiao.
Working in teams of three, students will assemble a baseline drone and complete their first test flight by Session 3, then extend their drones (Sessions 4–6), complete mini-challenges (Sessions 7–9), and present their work at a final poster session and flight demo on April 23rd (Session 9 on Week 10). Students implement 3D printing, Laser Cutting, and other fabrication processes to customize their drone airframes.
The workshop runs weekly Wednesdays from 5:00–7:00PM for 10 weeks, and is open to students from all majors—previously, 24 students from many different majors participated. Successful completion earns a GMU digital micro-credential. Applications for Fall 2026 will be available leading up to the Fall semester.
Questions? Contact mkazemza@gmu.edu or adatar@gmu.edu, or visit the MIX in Horizon Hall 1408.,
10 WEEK COURSE OUTLINE:
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Wednesdays)
Week 1 (16th Sept): Kickoff, intro Drone technology and history, Lab: Intro to Arduino, PWM with a servo, Ultrasonic distance measurement.
Week 2 (23rd Sept): Intro to proportional–integral–derivative controllers (PIDs), Intro to IMU sensors, Lab: Build a balance beam to demonstrate PID’s, Arduinos/ Servos
Week 3 (30th Sept): NO MEETING THIS WEEK
Week 4 (7th Oct): Power system of a drone, Lab: Soldering, begin drone assembly
Week 5 (14th Oct): Flight controllers and how it integrates, Lab: Assemble drone frame, Integrate ESC’s to controller
Week 6 (21st Oct): Radio & flight controller programming, Lab: Radio Pairing with drone, Load software on the flight controller, test
Week 7 (28th Oct): Safety briefing, Lab: Final drone preparations and test flights
Week 8 (4th Nov): Testing and flight training (*potential to be Outdoors)
Week 9 (11th Nov): Testing and flight training; Practice demonstrations, pitch presentations to fellow teams
Week 10 (18th Nov): Final Technical Presentations and flight demo to judging panel