Da Vinci Challenge to Take Flight at Foxcroft on October 26

 The DaVinci Challenge grew out of a larger initiative, the Wildlife Conservation UAV Challenge, launched in 2013, which invited scientists, artists, and engineers around the world to develop UAVs optimized for protecting endangered species from poachers. KWF founder Aliyah Pandolfi found that the student base of engineers, scientists, and designers in other countries was ahead of American students and decided to do something about it.

Last summer, the group brought the Da Vinci challenge to students at a workshop in Great Fall and this fall offered it to schools in Northern Virginia. Science Department Chair Dr. Eagen found four girls interested and took them to the first workshop Oct. 2 and soon discovered that the event was in need of a flight-test launch pad. Dr Eagen invited Pandolfi to consider Foxcroft's 500-acre campus and, after her visit Tuesday (Oct. 7), Pandolfi was sold. 

 

“For one thing, the scenery is beautiful,” she said, “and there is plenty of space for more than one team to fly their drones at the same time. There is also flat space along the fence for spectators to observe. Even better, as we talked, we saw many possibilities for collaboraing with Foxcroft on a long-term basis. We share the goal of motivating girls to explore fields that they might not think of by offering fun projects that really interest them." Dr. Eagen and the Foxcroft team have already come up with a variety of ways to use, test, and improve their drone, which Foxcroft keeps after the program, such as tracking deer on campus and filming events from above.

Head of School Catherine McGehee is delighted with the prospect. “This is the kind of partnership I am hoping to build,” said McGehee. “One that is aligned with Foxcroft's mission in that the Kashmir Foundation approaches teaching robotics the ways girls learn technology best, and it has a focus on animals, which is part of Foxcroft's DNA. . . I am so very excited about the possibilities of moving forward, and I thank Maria for her initiative!” 

In the first Da Vinci Challenge workshop last week, the Foxcroft team built their hexacopter drone. Tonight and next Thursday, they will continue to create a customized UAV, and learn and implement robotics systems integration and flying techniques in preparation for the October 26 demonstration -- which promises to be something parents, students, faculty, and future engineers won't want to miss!