Indian drone regulations (DGCA rules) in Drone Programming - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of Drone Flight Authorization Check

What is the output of this code that checks if a drone flight is authorized based on altitude and no-fly zone?

Drone Programming

def check_authorization(altitude, in_no_fly_zone):
    if altitude > 400:
        return "Flight not authorized: altitude too high"
    if in_no_fly_zone:
        return "Flight not authorized: no-fly zone"
    return "Flight authorized"

print(check_authorization(350, False))

A "Flight not authorized: altitude too high"

B "Flight authorized"

C "Flight not authorized: no-fly zone"

D "Flight authorized with restrictions"

💡 Hint

Check the altitude and no-fly zone conditions carefully.

The altitude is 350 which is less than 400, and the drone is not in a no-fly zone, so the flight is authorized.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding Drone Weight Categories

According to DGCA rules, which weight category does a drone weighing 3.5 kg belong to?

A Nano drone (less than 250 grams)

B Micro drone (250 grams to 2 kg)

C Small drone (2 kg to 25 kg)

D Medium drone (25 kg to 150 kg)

💡 Hint

Check the weight ranges for each category carefully.

A drone weighing 3.5 kg falls into the Small drone category which is from 2 kg to 25 kg.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the Error in Geo-fencing Code

What error does this code raise when checking if a drone is inside a geo-fenced area?

Drone Programming

def is_inside_geo_fence(lat, lon, fence):
    return fence['lat_min'] <= lat <= fence['lat_max'] and fence['lon_min'] <= lon <= fence['lon_max']

fence = {'lat_min': 12.0, 'lat_max': 13.0, 'lon_min': 77.0}
print(is_inside_geo_fence(12.5, 77.5, fence))

A KeyError: 'lon_max'

B TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for <=: 'dict' and 'float'

C Returns False

D SyntaxError: invalid syntax

💡 Hint

Check if all required keys exist in the fence dictionary.

The fence dictionary is missing the 'lon_max' key, so accessing it raises a KeyError.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Syntax Error in Drone Flight Plan Dictionary

Which option contains the correct syntax for defining a drone flight plan dictionary with keys 'start', 'end', and 'altitude'?

A flight_plan = {'start': (12.9716, 77.5946), 'end': (13.0358, 77.5970), 'altitude': 300}

B flight_plan = {'start': (12.9716, 77.5946), 'end': (13.0358, 77.5970) 'altitude': 300}

C flight_plan = {'start': (12.9716, 77.5946), 'end': (13.0358, 77.5970), 'altitude': 300,}

D flight_plan = {'start': (12.9716, 77.5946), 'end': (13.0358, 77.5970), altitude: 300}

💡 Hint

Check commas and quotes around keys.

Options A and C are correct syntax. Option B misses a comma, Option D misses quotes around 'altitude'.

🚀 Application

expert

Calculate Total Flight Time with Battery Constraints

Given a drone with a battery capacity of 6000 mAh and a consumption rate of 1200 mAh per 10 minutes, what is the maximum flight time in minutes?

A 50 minutes

B 60 minutes

C 70 minutes

D 80 minutes

💡 Hint

Divide battery capacity by consumption rate per minute.

Consumption rate is 1200 mAh per 10 minutes = 120 mAh per minute. Total flight time = 6000 / 120 = 50 minutes.

Practice

1. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for flying a drone in India according to DGCA rules?

easy

A. Flying in restricted no-fly zones

B. Flying above 400 feet without permission

C. Registering the drone before flight

D. Ignoring the drone weight limits

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand DGCA registration rule

   DGCA mandates that all drones must be registered before flying in India.

2. Step 2: Check other options against DGCA rules

   Flying above 400 feet or in no-fly zones is prohibited without permission, and ignoring weight limits is not allowed.

3. Final Answer:

   Registering the drone before flight -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Registration is mandatory = C [OK]

Hint: Remember: Registration is the first step before flying [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming flying above 400 feet is allowed
• Ignoring no-fly zone restrictions
• Thinking weight limits don't matter

2. Which Python code snippet correctly checks if a drone's altitude is within the DGCA allowed limit of 400 feet?

easy

A. if altitude <= 400:
print('Safe to fly')

B. if altitude < 400:
print('Safe to fly')

C. if altitude >= 400:
print('Safe to fly')

D. if altitude > 400:
print('Safe to fly')

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand altitude limit condition

   DGCA allows flying up to 400 feet inclusive, so altitude <= 400 is correct.

2. Step 2: Analyze each condition

   if altitude <= 400: print('Safe to fly') uses <= 400, which includes 400 feet. if altitude < 400: print('Safe to fly') excludes 400 feet, the other options allow unsafe altitudes.

3. Final Answer:

   if altitude <= 400:\n print('Safe to fly') -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Altitude must be at most 400 = B [OK]

Hint: Use <= 400 to include max allowed altitude [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using < 400 excludes exactly 400 feet
• Using >= or > allows unsafe altitudes
• Confusing comparison operators

3. What will be the output of this Python code snippet checking drone weight compliance?

weight = 2.5  # in kg
if weight <= 2:
    print('Light drone')
elif weight <= 25:
    print('Medium drone')
else:
    print('Heavy drone')

medium

A. Light drone

B. Medium drone

C. Heavy drone

D. No output

Solution

1. Step 1: Check weight against conditions

   Weight is 2.5 kg, which is not <= 2 but is <= 25.

2. Step 2: Determine which print executes

   Since 2.5 <= 25, the 'Medium drone' print statement runs.

3. Final Answer:

   Medium drone -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   2.5 kg fits medium drone category = A [OK]

Hint: Check conditions top to bottom; first true runs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming 2.5 kg is light drone
• Ignoring elif condition
• Thinking else runs for 2.5 kg

4. Identify the error in this Python code snippet that checks if a drone is flying in a no-fly zone:

no_fly_zones = ['airport', 'military_base']
drone_location = 'airport'
if drone_location = no_fly_zones:
    print('Drone in no-fly zone!')

medium

A. Using '=' instead of '==' in the if condition

B. Incorrect list syntax for no_fly_zones

C. Missing colon ':' after if statement

D. Wrong variable name drone_location

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the if condition syntax

   The code uses '=' which is assignment, not comparison. It should be '==' or 'in'.

2. Step 2: Understand correct membership check

   To check if drone_location is in no_fly_zones, use 'if drone_location in no_fly_zones:'. Using '=' causes syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Using '=' instead of '==' in the if condition -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use '==' or 'in' for comparison, not '=' [OK]

Hint: Use '==' or 'in' for comparisons, '=' is assignment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using '=' instead of '==' or 'in'
• Confusing assignment with comparison
• Not checking membership properly

5. You want to write a Python function to check if a drone flight is legal under DGCA rules. The drone must be registered, fly below 400 feet, and not be in a no-fly zone. Which function correctly implements these checks?

hard

A. def is_legal(registered, altitude, location):
if registered and altitude > 400 and location not in ['airport', 'military_base']:
return True
return False

B. def is_legal(registered, altitude, location):
if registered or altitude < 400 or location in ['airport', 'military_base']:
return True
return False

C. def is_legal(registered, altitude, location):
if not registered and altitude > 400 and location in ['airport', 'military_base']:
return True
return False

D. def is_legal(registered, altitude, location):
if registered and altitude <= 400 and location not in ['airport', 'military_base']:
return True
return False

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze legal conditions

   Drone must be registered, altitude <= 400, and location not in no-fly zones.

2. Step 2: Check each option's logic

   def is_legal(registered, altitude, location): if registered and altitude <= 400 and location not in ['airport', 'military_base']: return True return False uses 'and' for all conditions correctly. Others use 'or' or wrong comparisons allowing illegal flights.

3. Final Answer:

   def is_legal(registered, altitude, location):\n if registered and altitude <= 400 and location not in ['airport', 'military_base']:\n return True\n return False -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   All conditions must be true = A [OK]

Hint: Use 'and' to combine all legal conditions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'or' instead of 'and' allowing illegal flights
• Wrong altitude comparison signs
• Incorrect no-fly zone membership check