Make coding take flight

Program the TI-Nspire™ CX II and TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculators to fly a Tello drone.

Fly a Tello drone with TI technology

Get ready to launch into interactive STEM learning. Now teachers and students can program their TI-Nspire™ CX II or TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculators to make any one of the family of Tello drones fly.

With the combination of Tello and TI technology, students will learn to:

Develop real-world text-based programming skills.
Build valuable STEM skills and experience with drones.
Experiment with loops, conditional statements, sequences and Boolean operators.

Did you know coding helps build math skills?

It strengthens students’ understanding of key math concepts, including distance, speed and time, and X, Y, Z coordinates.

What you’ll need to start flying

TI-Nspire™ CX II or TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator
Tello, Tello EDU (recommended) or Tello TT drone
BBC micro:bit v2
Micro USB to Mini USB OTG cable (to connect micro:bit to a graphing calculator)
BitMaker V2 – Grove Expansion Board for micro:bit
Grove – UART WiFi V2 module
USB rechargeable battery
Extra Tello drone batteries (optional but recommended)

For more details and purchasing information, download the PDF.

If you're looking for a one-stop shop for everything you need that enables Tello to work with your Python-capable TI graphing calculator, try the iCode Programmer Pack.

Prepare for liftoff with TI technology in three easy steps

1. Download the files

Get everything you need in one easy download. Included is the “runtime” hex file, the micro:bit module, and the Getting Started Guide featuring step-by-step instructions.

2. Flash the hex file

In order to flash the “runtime” hex file, connect the micro:bit to a computer then drag and drop the file to the micro:bit file directory. The Texas logo will light up the micro:bit.

3. Add the module

Install the micro:bit module on your graphing calculator to add new Python menu options for coding the micro:bit. Find them in the Python application on the calculator.

Choose your calculator to download the files

TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculator TI-84 Plus CE Python

Free coding activities for the Tello drone

Getting Your Wings

Prepare to take flight! Introduce beginners to the interactive world of programming drones, and the FAA’s requirements for becoming a certified drone pilot. In this activity, students will explore:

Variables
Importing libraries
Use an object method

Input and output (I/O)
Flight safety

TI-Nspire™ CX II technology:
Download zip file Watch video

TI-84 Plus CE Python:
Download zip file Watch video

Four Square

Play the traditional game of four square with a TI graphing calculator and a Tello EDU drone! In this activity, students will explore:

Loops
Go to X, Y, Z
Variables

TI-Nspire™ CX II technology:
Download zip file Watch video

TI-84 Plus CE Python Download zip file Watch video

Do more with Tello

Interested in trying out more coding activities with the Tello drone? Check out TI’s 10 Minutes of Code to get started.

TI-84 Plus CE Python TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculator

TI STEM Projects

Explore more student activities at TI STEM Projects. Request to try out the pilot program as your students’ first project.

Go to TI STEM Projects

Discover BBC micro:bit

The BBC micro:bit gets students excited about learning to code with the help of light shows, sounds and interactivity.

Learn more

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