MIX Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping
Sponsored by KEEN, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, the MIX Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping (Drone) Workshop Series returns for Spring 2026, building on four successful semesters of a 10-week hands-on short course where students learn UAV fundamentals and advanced manufacturing through drone prototyping. This semester, students will be encouraged to use 3D printing, Laser Cutting and other fabrication processes to customize their drone airframes.
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 November 20 (Session 9 on Week 10).
The workshop begins Thursday, February 12th, runs weekly from 4:30–6:30PM 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 are due by midnight on Wednesday, February 4th, and acceptances will be sent by Friday, February 6th. Waitlisted students must attend the first session to maintain eligibility.
This semester GMU Robotics PhD Candidate Aniket Anand Datar, advised by Professor Xuesu Xiao, will be the instructor for this badged short course.
Questions? Contact mkazemza@gmu.edu or adatar@gmu.edu, or visit the MIX in Horizon Hall 1408.
“I had so much fun learning all about drones and having this wonderful experience!”
Spring 2026 10 WEEK COURSE OUTLINE:
*Meets Thursdays, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM (2 hour sessions)
February 12 - Week 1: Kickoff, intro Drone technology and history, Lab: Intro to Arduino, PWM with a servo, Ultrasonic distance measurement
February 19 - Week 2: NO MEETING THIS WEEK -due to Fuse Opening in Arlington campus
February 26 - Week 3: Intro to proportional–integral–derivative controllers (PIDs), Intro to IMU sensors, Lab: Build a balance beam to demonstrate PID’s, Arduinos/ Servos
March 5 - Week 4: Power system of a drone, Lab: Soldering, begin drone assembly
March 9-15 - Spring Recess
March 19 - Week 5: Flight controllers and how it integrates, Lab: Assemble drone frame, Integrate ESC’s to controller
March 26 - Week 6: Radio & flight controller programming, Lab: Radio Pairing with drone, Load software on the flight controller, test
April 2 - Week 7: Safety briefing, Lab: Final drone preparations and test flights
April 9 - Week 8: Testing and flight training *potential to be Outdoors
April 16 - Week 9: Testing and flight training; Practice demonstrations, pitch presentations to fellow teams
April 23 - Week 10: Final Technical Presentations and flight demo to judging panel