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Spies That Fly

Viewing Ideas

Before Watching

1. Ask students to list the challenges they think engineers face when designing an unmanned aircraft.

2. As they watch, have students take notes on the different types of UAVs mentioned in the program and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

After Watching

1. Discuss the advantages to unmanned flight (less expensive, no risk of loss of life, vehicle can track object well) and the disadvantages (poor target location, lot of electronics on board and in control station that have to work).

2. Review students' notes about the different types of UAVs mentioned in the film. Make a chart on the blackboard listing the benefits and drawbacks of each.

3. Ask student if they would fly on an airplane without a pilot and why or why not. Discuss what problems need to be worked out before an unmanned commercial aircraft becomes feasible.