Painting the Sky with Drones — Swarm Flight Design Workshop at SKH Leung Kwai Yee Secondary School

INSPIRE instructors brought an exciting progressive journey to SKH Leung Kwai Yee Secondary School through the "Drone Swarm Flight Design Workshop". The school wanted to give students a multi-faceted drone experience, so the entire programme spanned from September 2025 to March 2026. In the first half, we used the "Low-Altitude Economy" as a premise, prompting students to think about related applications and carry out simulated missions. We then progressively advanced to 3D spatial swarm flight design, with the ultimate goal of rehearsing and filming a performance for the school anniversary in March.

Drone Programming: Iterative Testing & Low-Altitude Economy Simulations

Before diving into swarm flight, instructors first helped students grasp fundamental drone knowledge and logic. To solve simulated low-altitude economy missions, students needed to learn different programming methods and drone components through the Tello. For example, they practised using the forward visual detector, downward positioning, and map-based tag positioning systems to figure out how to achieve their objectives. Throughout this process, students went through repeated cycles of hypothesising, programming, testing, and debugging to successfully complete designated flight missions.

Upgraded Swarm Operations: Painting in the Sky on Glow-in-the-Dark Star Maps

In the second half of the programme, we upgraded the TT drones for enhanced swarm effects. Students progressed from learning simple "Swarm 1.0" manoeuvres in November to the advanced "Swarm 2.0" by early 2026. The biggest breakthrough was introducing the more precise "Glow-in-the-Dark Night Sky Map". With this system, swarm programming became much smoother, and students could finally say goodbye to writing code line by line.

Precise Coordinates & Visual Dynamic Effects

Now, programming focuses on "painting in the sky". Students primarily draw dot-matrix patterns, arranging the X and Y axes in 3D space while precisely controlling Z-axis height changes. Using the TT Formation Assistant software, students can freely create within a 2×3×3-metre cube, adding rotation, translation, scaling, wave effects, and even rainbow dynamics to their formations. Instructors particularly emphasised that when adjusting 3D spatial coordinates, Z-axis height must be precisely controlled to prevent formations from "going through the floor".

Field Operations & Perfect Team Coordination

After completing the programming, live operation was the ultimate test of teamwork. Before every launch, teams had to verify each drone had over 80% battery, external modules were set to Station Mode, and drones maintained at least 70cm safety distance on the star map. Swarm flight demands high-level division of labour: everyone participates in the initial formation design; on-site, one computer controller executes the formation programme while three support personnel move across the venue, each managing three drones — handling battery swaps, power-ups, and precise positioning. Only when everyone plays their part can the swarm take flight successfully.

Summary & Practice

During the March performance rehearsals and filming, students put their skills into practice, showcasing both individual drone programming missions and swarm flight performances. This not only deepened their understanding of Hong Kong's low-altitude economy development but also prepared the most dazzling performance for the school anniversary.

Nurturing Innovation Talent: Unlocking Hong Kong Students' Limitless Potential

This progressive drone swarm course is more than an exciting experience for Hong Kong secondary students — it's a crucial stepping stone to future technology trends. As Hong Kong actively explores the "low-altitude economy", giving students early exposure to drone programming, 3D spatial computing, and automation technology effectively cultivates their computational thinking, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork spirit. From single-drone testing to swarm performances, students gain hands-on STEAM knowledge, building a solid foundation for their future in innovation and technology.

We warmly welcome schools interested in drone and STEM education to contact the INSPIRE team for more details. Let us create a bespoke technology experience programme for your school!