New 2026 Successor to Discover Drones
Launch a CTE drone program that grows with your students.
Drone Pathways is the turn-key UAV program built around the FLEX UAV — a student-buildable, autonomy-capable drone designed for CTE learning environments.
The FLEX UAV drone and Drone Pathways curriculum are backed by a decade of UAV education experience and engineered for years of flight.
The Problem
Finding the sweet spot for CTE
sports_esportsOption A: Codable Indoor Drones
Great first step, but little industry application.
closeNo payloads
closeLimited functionality
closeOften not repairable
Industry-relevant platform with hardware and curriculum.
task_altDurable, repairable frame
task_altReady for autonomous waypoint mission planning
task_altComprehensive, CTE UAS standards-aligned curriculum resources
task_altFuture add-on hardware and curriculum modules
attach_moneyOption C: Commercial Drones
$10k+ per drone. Your entire program hinges on a student’s thumbs.
closeExpensive
closeClosed-source
closeCan be difficult to pilot
By Educators, For Educators
You didn’t sign up to become an aerospace engineer overnight.
Many CTE instructors are asked to start a drone program with no flight hours and no roadmap. Drone Pathways thrives in any CTE environment.
person1-on-1 Educator Onboarding
Private sessions with a PCS development specialist, not a generic webinar. We walk through your kit and address your questions.
supportOngoing Support & Warranty
US-based support with real people and real turnaround. Warranty and service are handled by the team that designed the drone.
repeatA Program That Persists
Spare parts, planned hardware expansions, and curriculum updates. Year 5 should look better than year 1 — not worse.
PCS Edventures’ Legacy
Nine years of classroom drones. We’re not flying by night.
When a district commits funding, they deserve a partner that’s going to be there in the years to come. FLEX UAV didn’t drop out of the sky. It’s the evolution of everything we learned from almost a decade of RubiQ drone design and Discover Drones curriculum experience.
flag 2017
RubiQ Launches
Our first buildable, open-source classroom drone.
menu_book 2019
RubiQ Nation
Discover Drones student-directed curriculum spans across the US.
flight 2022
AFJROTC Partnership
Discover Drones reaches thousands of students through Air Force JROTC programs.
star 2026
Drone Pathways powered by FLEX UAV
Autonomy-capable drone with CTE UAS standards-aligned curriculum for career-readiness.
Mission Overview
Your classroom’s flight plan.
Seven waypoints. Here’s the route every Drone Pathways classroom flies.
01 · Unbox
Open the kit. Meet the team.
Students unpack kits. Safety briefing and crew assignments set the tone for the course.
02 · Hardware & Fundementals
Assemble the FLEX UAV.
Carbon fiber frame, 3D-printed legs/canopy, brushless motors, props. Students learn mechanical discipline on real industry-grade parts.
03 · Software & Flight Sim
Simulator, safety, CRM.
Crew Resource Management, airspace basics, and hours in the simulator before a single prop spins up at the flight field.
04 · Scenario-Based Challenges
Real-world applications.
Agriculture, construction, public safety, search & rescue, inspection. Students connect their kit to careers.
05 · Regulations & Piloting
Get airborne.
Bottom-mounted optical flow and LiDAR give students a stable platform to learn on. Confidence builds quickly.
06 · Bonus Missions
Autonomous piloting.
Explore the autonomous waypoint mission planning functionality. Future add-on hardware and curriculum modules will be available.
07 · Part 107 Option
Graduate, licensed.
Add the FAA Part 107 Prep course. Students age 16+ can graduate with a commercial drone pilot’s license and are immediately employable.
Meet the FLEX UAV
Student-Buildable.
Durable.
Unlimited Potential.
Explore the world of UAVs with an approachable platform that is designed for education.
Robust Carbon Fiber Frame
The same material used in commercial UAVs. Light, stiff, durable. Students feel the difference in their hands.
3D-Printed Legs & Canopy
Consumable parts that can be reordered or printed on-site. Have a makerspace? Students can iterate their own designs.
Brushless Propulsion
Industry-standard motors and ESCs.
Optical Flow & LiDAR
Bottom-mounted sensors deliver steady hover and altitude hold. New pilots learn on a forgiving platform.
Autonomous Waypoint Mission Planning
Plan, upload, execute. Give students the same mission-planning workflow used in commercial UAS operations.
Expansion Capability
Add cameras and sensor payloads with future expansions. The FLEX UAV grows with your program year after year.
What’s in the Package
One purchase order. A complete classroom.
No outside sourcing needed. Open the boxes equipped to prepare and start teaching.
- FLEX UAV Kits: Buildable, modular, autonomy-capable
- Radio Controllers: Industry-standard radios with simulator support
- LiPo Batteries & Chargers: Balance chargers and safe storage
- CTE-Aligned Curriculum: Build, fly, CRM, industry scenarios
- Storage Backpacks: One per crew
- Safety Glasses & Tools: Everything needed for assembly and flight
- Spare Parts Supply: Extra props, 3D printed components and fasteners
- FAA Part 107 Prep Course Add-On: Optional career-ready add-on for students age 16+
Scalable Packages
Multiple Package Options
Scale your program to fit your needs and budget. Expand each section to see the included materials.
- 2 Drones
- 2 Backpacks
- 3 Radio Controllers
- 8 Flight Simulator Controllers
- 10 Safety Glasses
- 2 Batteries
- 1 Charger
- Extra legs
- Extra props
- Tools
- Drone Pathways Educator Guide
- Pilot Logs
- Access to the Digital Resource Portal
- 5 Drones
- 5 Backpacks
- 6 Radio Controllers
- 20 Flight Simulator Controllers
- 25 Safety Glasses
- 5 Batteries
- 2 Chargers
- Extra legs
- Extra props
- Tools
- Drone Pathways Educator Guide
- Pilot Logs
- Access to the Digital Resource Portal
- 10 Drones
- 10 Backpacks
- 11 Radio Controllers
- 20 Flight Simulator Controllers
- 25 Safety Glasses
- 10 Batteries
- 4 Chargers
- Extra legs
- Extra props
- Tools
- Drone Pathways Educator Guide
- Pilot Logs
- Access to the Digital Resource Portal
- 10 Drones
- 10 Backpacks
- 11 Radio Controllers
- 20 Flight Simulator Controllers
- 25 Safety Glasses
- 10 Batteries
- 4 Chargers
- Extra legs
- Extra props
- Tools
- Drone Pathways Educator Guide
- Pilot Logs + Extras
- Access to the Digital Resource Portal
- Part 107 Prep Course for Drone Pilot Certification (50 Seats/1 Year)
- BAT SAFE XL Battery Storage Box
- Cone Markers
- First Aid Kit
- Safety Vests
- Racing Flags
- Racing Gates
- Premium Spare Parts Set (Landing Gears, Motors, Screws, Standoffs)
The Curriculum
Durable skills. Not just flight time.
The Drone Pathways curriculum was shaped by over nine years of feedback on Discover Drones. It teaches the skills that hiring managers ask for:
- Crew Resource Management
- Pre-flight procedures
- UAV operation
- Mission planning
task_altCTE UAS standards aligned
Go straight to the content that matters.
task_altCRM & pre-flight SOPs
Industry language starting from lesson 1.
Curriculum Topics:
- Introduction to Drones & Inventory
- UAV Careers & LiPo Battery Technology
- Lab Safety & Motor Installation
- Assembly Completion & Peer Inspections
- Subsystems & Initial Power-up
- Forces of Flight & Flight Maneuvers
- Flight Sim Basics—Pitch and Roll
- Flight Sim—Throttle and Yaw
- Flight Sim—Pitch, Roll, Throttle, Yaw
- Agriculture Simulation—Sprayer Challenge
- Team Roles & Communication in Drone Operations
- Mission Planning & Flight Team Operations
- FAA Regulations & Ethical Use
- TRUST Test Preparation & Completion
- Pre-Flight Checklist & Flight Field Safety
- VLOS Flight Training—Basics
- VLOS Precision Maneuvers
- VLOS Mission Plan
- Capstone Planning & Rehearsal
- Final Flight Challenge & Reflection
Optional Add-On
FAA Part 107 Prep Course
Students 16 years and older can leave your classroom with a commercial drone pilot’s license — the exact certification employers require in job listings.
16+
Eligible age
FAA
Certification
$$$
Ready to hire
Where Graduates Go
A career pipeline, not a novelty.
UAS is now embedded in six major industries. Drone Pathways students graduate ready to step into any of them.
Precision Agriculture
Crop health, irrigation mapping, yield forecasting.
Construction & Survey
Site progress, volumetrics, as-built documentation.
Public Safety & SAR
Search & rescue, incident command, scene mapping.
Infrastructure Inspection
Towers, power lines, bridges — safer, faster, cheaper.
Media & Cinematography
A career path students already recognize and want.
Environmental Science
Wildlife, wildfire, coastal monitoring, research.
Pre-Flight Checklist
Common Educator Questions
No. Drone Pathways is for all experience levels, including first-time drone instructors. 1-on-1 onboarding walks you through the kit, the curriculum, and your lessons before day one.
Students fix it, learning repair and troubleshooting skills along the way. Spare parts are included, most consumables are 3D-printable, and US-based warranty and support covers the rest.
Discover Drones is a fantastic introduction to drones for middle and high school. Drone Pathways is the CTE-aligned successor: UAS standards-aligned curriculum, industry-relevant guidance, autonomous mission planning, future hardware and curriculum expansion modules, and an optional Part 107 pipeline. Same educational DNA, built for the career track.
In most cases, yes. We provide standards alignment documentation and budget-justification language that has worked for districts across the country.
No, Drone Pilot Ground School is offered as an optional add-on. Many CTE programs choose to include it paired with the Part 107 exam because it delivers a recognized industry credential, which strengthens Perkins reporting and student employment readiness.
One internet-connected Chromebook, Windows, or Mac device per student. No complicated software installs or IT department headaches.
We make it easy for your IT or network admin to review and approve digital assets in our network requirements guideopen_in_new.
Cleared For Takeoff
Ready to launch your UAV program?
Meet with a Drone Pathways specialist, or submit the form to send us details about your program. We’ll review your needs and funding options, then send a quote tailored to your program, usually within 1 business day.