Hardware & Networking
Drone and IoT basics
How sensors, small boards and Wi-Fi make connected devices, and how a multirotor drone is built and flown responsibly.
Suits: Students from class 8 and hobbyists
Duration, fees and batch timings are quoted by the head office or your centre.
The study book of this course
- Drone and IoT Basics
- Lessons
- 10
- Practice questions
- 40
- Free ebooks
- 0
About the course
What the drone and IoT course is about
The Internet of Things means ordinary objects that sense something and send the data over a network. The course explains sensors, small boards, Wi-Fi and dashboards, and what a simple home-monitoring project involves, including the privacy of connected devices.
The drone lessons cover the parts of a multirotor, how it flies, battery safety, pre-flight checks and why the rules matter: check the current drone rules and no-fly areas before any flight.
What you will practise
Drawn from the lessons of the study books below.
- 01
Explain how a sensor, a board and a network work together
- 02
Read sensor data and show it on a dashboard
- 03
Name the parts of a multirotor and what each does
- 04
Explain roll, pitch, yaw and thrust
- 05
Handle and charge batteries safely
- 06
Check the rules and the surroundings before any flight
What you will learn
10 lessons, 30 exercises
Every lesson of the study book that comes with this course in the student portal, with the key points of each lesson and exercises to try. Your centre gives you the syllabus, the duration and the fee.
Study book
Drone and IoT Basics
Learn how connected devices sense, send and show data with microcontrollers, Wi-Fi, MQTT and dashboards, build a simple home monitor, and understand how drones are built and fly, with battery safety and responsible flying under Indian rules.
1What Is the Internet of Things?4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- IoT devices sense, think, connect, store and show, and sometimes act.
- A microcontroller reads sensors and runs the device program.
- The cloud stores data and a dashboard shows it to people.
- Reliability, power use and security are the main design worries.
Try this
- Pick three IoT devices you have seen (in a home, shop or school) and fill a table with their sensor, network and what they do.
- Draw the sense, think, connect, store, show and act chain for a water-tank level monitor.
- Write down three tasks at home that an IoT device could help with, and the sensor each would need.
2Sensors and Microcontrollers4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- A sensor converts a physical quantity into an electrical signal.
- A microcontroller is a tiny computer on one chip that repeats its program in a loop.
- An ADC turns a voltage into a number: 10-bit gives 1024 levels, 12-bit gives 4096.
- Check whether a board and sensor use 3.3 V or 5 V before wiring.
Try this
- For a 12-bit ADC with a 3.3 V reference, estimate the voltage when the reading is 2048.
- List five sensors from the table and, for each, one real place where it would be useful in your neighbourhood.
- Write the pseudocode for a program that reads a light sensor every 5 seconds and prints "dark" when the value is below a limit.
3Wi-Fi, HTTP and MQTT4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- A Wi-Fi device needs the network name and password, and gets an IP address.
- HTTP is request and response; MQTT is publish and subscribe through a broker.
- JSON is a simple text format of name and value pairs.
- HTTPS and TLS encrypt data; protect broker access with a username and password.
Try this
- Write a JSON message for a soil-moisture reading with a field name, value and unit.
- Make up five MQTT topic names for a house with two rooms (temperature and light in each).
- Calculate how many readings per day a sensor sends if it reports every 15 minutes.
4Cloud and Dashboards3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- The cloud stores and processes data on remote servers.
- A dashboard shows data with gauges, charts, status lights and controls.
- Show units, the last-seen time and thresholds so people can understand the data quickly.
- Local dashboards are more private; cloud dashboards are reachable from anywhere.
Try this
- Sketch a dashboard for a classroom temperature monitor on paper, with at least one gauge, one chart and one status light.
- Decide three alerts for a water-tank monitor and the threshold for each.
- Calculate how many readings a day arrive if a sensor reports every 2 minutes.
5Project: A Simple Home Monitor4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- Test the sensor on its own before adding Wi-Fi.
- Keep Wi-Fi passwords and keys out of shared code.
- The device should reconnect by itself after network loss.
- Run low-voltage projects from a USB supply, not from bare mains.
Try this
- Write the numbered steps of this project in your own words and add one test for each step.
- Draw the wiring diagram on paper, with pin names for power, ground and data.
- Decide on a temperature limit for the alert and explain why you chose it.
6Privacy and Security of Connected Devices4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- Connected devices need strong, unique passwords and regular updates.
- Put smart gadgets on a separate guest network.
- Collect only the data you need, and ask where it is stored and who can see it.
- Anything that controls heat, water or power needs a hardware safety limit.
Try this
- Write a checklist of seven steps to secure a home camera, and tick the ones your family already follows.
- Make a list of three devices at home that hold personal data and write what each knows about you.
- Explain in a short paragraph why a project should keep its Wi-Fi password in a separate file.
7Parts of a Drone4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- A quadcopter has a frame, four motors, four propellers, four ESCs, a flight controller and a battery.
- ESCs drive the motors at the speeds the flight controller commands.
- The flight controller uses a gyroscope, accelerometer and other sensors to stay stable.
- A thrust-to-weight ratio of about 2 or more is needed for good control.
Try this
- Draw a quadcopter from above and label the frame, motors, propellers and where the flight controller sits.
- A drone weighs 800 g with four motors giving 2000 g of total thrust. Find the thrust-to-weight ratio.
- List the sensors in a flight controller and write what each one measures.
8How a Multirotor Flies4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- A drone hovers when thrust equals weight; more throttle makes it climb.
- Motors spin in opposite pairs so that their twisting effects cancel.
- Roll tilts sideways, pitch tilts forward or back and yaw turns on the spot.
- The flight controller keeps the drone stable by adjusting motor speeds many times a second.
Try this
- Draw a quadcopter from above with arrows showing which motors spin clockwise and which anticlockwise.
- For each of roll, pitch and yaw, write which motors speed up and which slow down.
- Explain in your own words why a drone leans forward when it moves forward.
9LiPo Battery Safety4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- LiPo packs store a lot of energy and can swell or catch fire if misused.
- A 3S pack is 11.1 V nominal and 12.6 V when full; each cell is 3.7 V nominal and 4.2 V full.
- Charge only with a balance charger, supervised, on a non-flammable surface.
- Never use a puffed or damaged pack; recycle it properly.
Try this
- Compute the nominal and full voltage of a 4S pack.
- A 3000 mAh pack supplies an average of 15 A. Estimate the theoretical flight time in minutes.
- Write a battery care poster with five dos and five don'ts for a school drone club.
10Pre-flight Checks and Responsible Flying4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises
Key points
- Do a full pre-flight check of rules, weather, site, drone, battery and controller.
- India has Drone Rules 2021 and an online platform called Digital Sky; check the current rules before flying.
- Drones are grouped as nano, micro, small, medium and large by weight.
- Do not fly near airports, in restricted zones such as much of Delhi, or over crowds.
Try this
- Make your own printed pre-flight checklist with at least ten items.
- Look up the official current guidance with an adult and write what a student should do before ever flying a drone in your city.
- Draw a map of your neighbourhood and mark places where flying would be unsafe or not allowed.
Glossary: 24 key terms of Drone and IoT Basics
- IoT
- The Internet of Things: everyday objects with sensors and a network connection that send or receive data.
- Sensor
- A part that measures a physical quantity and turns it into an electrical signal.
- Actuator
- A part that does something in the real world, such as a motor, relay or buzzer.
- Microcontroller
- A tiny computer on a single chip that runs a program to control a device.
- ESP32
- A family of low-cost microcontroller chips and boards, many with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- ADC
- Analogue to digital converter, which turns a voltage into a number.
- Deep sleep
- A low-power mode in which a device switches most parts off between tasks.
- SSID
- The name of a Wi-Fi network.
- IP address
- A number that identifies a device on a network.
- HTTP
- The request and response protocol used by web pages and many web services.
- MQTT
- A light publish and subscribe messaging protocol for small connected devices.
- Broker
- The server that receives MQTT messages and passes them to subscribers.
- JSON
- A plain-text format that stores data as names and values.
- Cloud
- Remote computers on the internet that store and process data.
- Dashboard
- A page or app that shows live data and controls in an easy visual form.
- Firmware
- The program stored inside a device that makes it work.
- TLS
- The encryption used by HTTPS and other secure connections.
- Multirotor
- A drone with several rotors, such as a quadcopter.
- ESC
- Electronic speed controller, which drives a motor at the speed the flight controller asks for.
- Flight controller
- The small computer and sensor board that keeps a drone stable and obeys commands.
- Thrust
- The upward push produced by the propellers.
- Roll, pitch and yaw
- Tilt sideways, tilt forwards or backwards, and turn on the spot.
- LiPo
- Lithium polymer battery, common in drones, which needs careful charging and handling.
- Digital Sky
- The Indian government platform and airspace map used for drone permissions and information.
Practice and study material
Study books and timed practice tests in the student portal
Students sign in to read the study books lesson by lesson, print them, mark lessons as done and test themselves with timed practice tests, every answer explained.
- 1study book
- 10lessons
- 40practice questions
- 24glossary terms
How the practice tests work
- Fresh questions each time
Up to 20 questions are picked at random from the subject’s question bank.
- One minute per question
A timer counts down. When it reaches zero, your answers are sent automatically.
- Move around freely
Skip a question, flag it, and come back to change your answer before you submit.
- Learn from every answer
At the end you see the right answer and an explanation for each question.
- Read, print and keep track
Each study book has its lessons, key points, exercises and a glossary. Print a lesson, or mark it as done.
Your centre gives you your login when you enrol.
Try 3 practice questions
Real questions from this course’s question banks. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
In MQTT, a device sends data by:
Show the answer
Answer: A. publishing a message on a topic
MQTT uses publish and subscribe with topics.
What does an ESC do?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Drives a motor at the speed requested
Each electronic speed controller sets the speed of one motor.
Before flying a drone in India, what should you do first?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Check the current rules and airspace information
Rules and zones can change, so check the current official information.
Careers
Careers this course leads towards
The kind of work these skills are used for. Each guide explains what the job involves, the skills it asks for and how to get started.
Robotics and electronics
Designing and building circuits, sensors and robots, and programming microcontrollers such as the Arduino.
Software developer
Writing, testing and fixing programs in languages such as C, C++, Java and Python.
Free calculators
Useful calculators
Free tools that go with this course. They work in your browser, on a phone or a computer.
Ohm’s law calculator
Find the voltage, current or resistance of a circuit from the other two (V = I × R).
How admission works
From your first question to your certificate.
The usual steps, at the head office in Delhi or at an authorised member centre.
- Who can join
- Students above 12 years of age.
- Where
- The Delhi head office and authorised member centres.
- Fees and timings
- On WhatsApp at +91 97116 99511, or by phone on 011 2721 1512.
- 1
Ask about the course
Call or WhatsApp the head office, or visit your nearest member centre. Ask for the duration, the fee and the batch timings in writing.
- 2
Fill the admission form
Admission forms are supplied by the head office to every centre.
- 3
Learn in class
Attend your batch at the centre, with the course material and study notes, and sign in to the student portal for the study books and practice tests.
- 4
Take the exam
The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher.
- 5
Receive your certificate
Students who pass get a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet. Employers can verify it with the head office.
Who can join the drone and IoT course?
Students above 12 years of age can take admission, at the Delhi head office or at an authorised member centre. The course suits students from class 8 and hobbyists. Tell the head office or your centre what you already know, and they will suggest where to start.
How long is the course and what is the fee?
Duration, fees and batch timings depend on the course and the centre. Ask the head office or your nearest member centre, and get the details in writing before you pay.
Where are the classes?
At the head office in Delhi (A-10, Chief Commissioner Colony, opposite Rana Pratap Bagh) and at authorised member centres. Call or WhatsApp the head office to find the nearest centre.
What do I need to use the study books and practice tests?
A phone or a computer with an internet connection, and the login your centre gives you at enrolment. The student portal opens in an ordinary web browser, so there is nothing to install. Student login.
How do the practice tests work?
Sign in to the student portal and choose a subject. Each test picks up to 20 questions at random from that subject’s question bank and gives you one minute per question, with a timer that sends your answers automatically when it reaches zero. You can skip a question, flag it and come back before you submit, and at the end you see the right answer and an explanation for every question. This course has 40 practice questions across 1 subject, and you can take the tests as often as you like.
Is there an exam and a certificate?
Yes. The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher. Students who pass receive a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet.
How is a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate verified?
On the verify certificate page, anyone can enter a certificate number and check it against the institute’s online register, which covers certificates issued through the portal. For older certificates, or if there is any doubt, send a copy to the head office by email or WhatsApp; the reply comes within 2 working days.
Ready to start the drone and IoT course?
Ask the head office for the duration, the fee, the batch timings and your nearest member centre.