Rye Technologies manufactures the Tello drones, but they use DJI Intel processors and flight control. They are also only accessible through DJI networks, the world’s biggest manufacturer of drones. So, these are the entry-level drones in the DJI product line. Which drone, however, is best for schools?
Tello Drone Hardware
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The hardware of the Tello drones may be identical. It weighs 87 grammes, has a five MP forward-facing cam, a visual positioning sensor, and can be programmed. As an entry-level drone, there’s a lot packed into this 87-gram package, especially considering the low price.
Each drone, such as DJI RoboMaster EP Core, also includes one interchangeable LiPo battery with an asserted flight time of thirteen minutes, but this is most likely in laboratory conditions, floating and draining the battery below the suggested 20% discharge. In the real world of flying, spins and a little breeze or motion from fans or air conditioning, then landing with 20% battery capacity left, a more sensible nine minutes of flying can be anticipated.
What Can The Tello Do?
The Tello is an excellent entry-level drone for those who are hesitant to begin with, something larger, more costly, and capable of causing more damage. This makes it an excellent drone for schools and students.
Because the Tello can also be programmed (more on that later), it is an excellent fit for STEM and Digital Technologies curricula.
What Can’t The Tello Do?
Tello weighs 87 grammes. It is classified as a microdrone, and as such, it has some constraints when compared to its larger DJI cousins. There will be some wind if you fly this outside, and as hard as those little motors will try to keep it stable, this will not be the little drone that could. It will be carried away by the wind, and if students are flying outside, panic and chaos will ensue.
It is best to fly the Tello indoors in an enclosed space, especially in schools. Even a slight breeze from gym fans and air conditioners can cause havoc. This is not the drone to collect drone data for mapping or to create a cinematography masterpiece. The camera is impressive for an 87-gram drone.
Can You Program With The Tello?
You certainly can. This is where we believe the Tello range’s true power lies. With each Tello, you can use the Tello third-party application to do block coding, and you can also use DroneBlocks to code in various line coding languages.
This makes it an excellent learning tool for problem-based learning difficulties, where the drone serves only as an engagement tool. The Tello drone is used in the classrooms of many STEM and Digital Technologies teachers, along with teachers from other subjects.
What’s the Distinction Between the Three Models?
Tello
The Tello has a white top and is part of DJI’s Consumer line. It is only available in Australia through major electronics retailers like JB HiFi and Harvey Norman. It can still be flown using the Tello EDU application and programmed using DroneBlocks. It also has a Tello Boost Combo alternative, which includes extra batteries (for a total of three in the box) and a three-port charging hub.
Tello Edu
The Tello EDU has a transparent black top and is part of DJI’s Education line. It is only available through education resellers such as She Maps in Australia. The Tello EDU comes with mission pads, which are essentially mouse pad-sized QR codes that can be combined with object recognition coding. For more advanced coding features, the Tello EDU has greater accessibility to the SDK than the Tello consumer range.
Tello’s Talent
This is an all-red drone that belongs to DJI’s Education division and is only available through education resellers. It also includes the mission pads and an ESP32 open-source controller that clips onto the top with a lego-style connection and is powered by the drone’s micro USB port on the side. It claims to support Arduino or Micro Python, has a programmable dot matrix screen, can measure distance and avoid obstacles, and can integrate other sensors.
Tello, Tello Edu, and Tello Talent: Which Should You Choose
It all depends. Most schools are advised to begin with the Tello DJI Education. When you buy from an education reseller, you get educational advice that you might not get if you walk into JB HiFi or Harvey Norman.
When compared to the Tello Talent, the DJI Ryze Tello Drone EDU will have enough learning for the vast majority of schools just getting started with drones or wanting to incorporate some line coding with the drones. The Tello Talent is designed for schools that have perfected the fundamentals, are already advanced with Micro Python or Arduino applications, and want to add the challenge of flying to their curriculum.