A morning with UH Hilo’s aeronautical science lab, where students hone their drone skills in the field

Posted on April 8, 2026April 15, 2026 by Staff

The course’s interdisciplinary approach, including what’s practiced at the field lab, ensures students can apply drone technology across multiple sectors, addressing challenges on Hawaiʻi Island and beyond.

Professor in bright orange shirt holds controls while looking up at drone above his head. The launch pad below is also a bright orange. Large open field, forest in background. — UH Hilo Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science Roberto Rodriguez test runs a midweight 15-pound drone during a lab class.

Story and photos by Zackary Walters/UH Hilo Stories.

This is a story about a fascinating drone lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

In a wide open field on a recent sunny morning at the university’s Agricultural Farm Laboratory located in Panaʻewa just south of Hilo, aeronautical students arrive in waves of three for their lab.

Professor in bright orange shirt holds controls while looking down at drone on launch pad. The launch pad is also a bright orange. Large open field, forest in background. — Assistant Professor Roberto Rodriguez sets up a midweight 15-pound drone on the launch pad for lab exercises.

Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Sciences Roberto Rodriguez, III, waits with three drones all set to go: a 250-gram ultra light drone, a midweight 15-pound drone, and a 55-pound upper limit drone with capacity to dispense chemicals and help with firefighting operations among other things. The skills needed to run the latter is just one step shy of a helicopter pilot.

The lab is part of an unmanned aircraft systems flight course (UAS Flight 452), a requirement for those earning a UAS certificate, a program based at the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management.

The UAS flight course guides new pilots to safely operate rotor-wing and fixed-wing UAS, focusing on risk mitigation and accident prevention, team work, crew resource management, and data recovery. It has an aeronautical science prerequisite requirement of a UAS robotics course (AERS 354).

In Rodriguez’s UAS flight lab, he introduces students to operation principals, laws and theory, and safety checks and maintenance of drones. Mission planning and simulation is learned as pilots build their skills. The course’s interdisciplinary approach, including what’s practiced at the field lab, ensures students can apply drone technology across multiple sectors, addressing challenges on Hawaiʻi Island and beyond.

“For those who have bachelor’s in geography, marine science, aquaculture, it’s a great add on,” says Rodriguez.

The field lab

The students have their lab portion of the class at the farm once a week. Today, they’re learning about what it takes for a successful drone flight from start to finish. The students arrive for the lab in five sets of threes.

First, students call air traffic control at the local airport to confirm the airspace is clear for takeoff. Then, students perform safety checks and perform any maintenance required. Once the drone is deemed safe to fly, students confirm a flight plan and move through a process to ensure safe take-off, flight, and landing.

Four men at a table with flight equipment and note pads. — Assistant Professor Rodriguez, lower right, critiques students as they engage in flight planning from start to finish. From top are students Brandon Goerhing, Ty Shimabukuro, and Louis DeVirgilio.

Three standing in launch field, professor giving instructions. — Assistant Professor Rodriguez (in orange) guides students (from left) Louis DeVirgilio and Ty Shimabukuro before launch.

Professor Rodriguez critiques students as they engage in flight planning from start to finish. As students arrive at the lab, each takes their turn to prove their accountability for the unmanned craft. They wait patiently to prove their aeronautical skills.

Once inspection and maintenance is complete, the students make plans for flight. With Professor Rodriquez by their side, students lift off. The unmanned craft hovers gracefully above their heads. After several maneuvers the pilot brings the drone in for safe landing. One by one, when all three students are done, they celebrate and reflect on the mission.

The drones

Small drone with four propellers. — The 250-gram ultra light drone set up on table.

A total of three types of drones are used in the process of learning to be a pilot. Each serves a purpose as technology advances. Students start small.

The first drone students fly is a 250-gram ultra light drone. A process of trial and error allows students to ease into the process of becoming a pilot. It’s okay to make mistakes with the ultra light; students learn from their own mistakes before taking on more expensive equipment.

When Rodriguez gives the okay, students fly the midweight 15-pound drone to continue honing their craft. When something goes wrong the drone will automatically land back where it initially took off. This allows for less accidents and expense as students learn how to fly.

Professor takes drone out of case. He wears an orange UH Hilo t-shirt. — Assistant Professor Rodriguez sets up the midweight 15-pound drone.

Professor adjusts the large drone while it sits on the launch pad. In the background is large open field surrounded by forest. — Assistant Professor Rodriguez sets up the 55-pound upper limit drone on the launch pad.

Large drone on a bright orange launch pad. In the background is an open field surrounded by forest. — The 55-pound upper limit drone rests on the launch pad.

The masters of flight will then fly the 55-pound upper limit drone, one step below an actual helicopter with the capacity to dispense chemicals and perform firefighting operations. The upper limit drone — of use for farmers, government, and environmental agencies — has a highly efficient capacity revolutionizing how work is done.

The value of UAS skills

Professor has his back to the camera, above is the drone flying above his head. — Assistant Professor Rodriguez demonstrates drone flight during lab class.

Student Brandon Goehring, a marine science major taking the course, says local fisheries will benefit tremendously with some of the drone work being done at sea.

“Something that I didn’t realize before the class was that I would learn about the integration into geographical information, remote sensing, data analysis,” he says.

Rodriguez says drone training is similar to flight school. “In the drone world, it’s about how much time you have spent operating a drone,” he says.

The UAS certificate program offers a marketing niche for graduates, distinguishing them in the job market. The certification, with substantial flight experience, positions students as highly desirable for a range of high paying jobs.