Multi-drone coordination concept in Drone Programming - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of drone position update loop

Consider a fleet of drones updating their positions in a loop. What is the output of the following code snippet?

Drone Programming

drones = [{'id': 1, 'pos': 0}, {'id': 2, 'pos': 5}]
for drone in drones:
    drone['pos'] += 3
print([d['pos'] for d in drones])

A [3, 8]

B [0, 5]

C [1, 6]

D [6, 11]

💡 Hint

Each drone's position increases by 3.

The loop adds 3 to each drone's position. So 0 + 3 = 3 and 5 + 3 = 8.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding drone collision avoidance logic

In multi-drone coordination, what is the main purpose of a collision avoidance algorithm?

A To reduce battery consumption by turning off sensors

B To increase drone speed for faster delivery

C To ensure drones maintain safe distances to prevent crashes

D To synchronize drone cameras for better video quality

💡 Hint

Think about safety when multiple drones fly close.

Collision avoidance algorithms help drones keep safe distances to avoid crashing into each other.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in drone task assignment code

What error will this code produce when assigning tasks to drones?

Drone Programming

tasks = ['scan', 'deliver', 'survey']
drones = [{'id': 1}, {'id': 2}]
for i in range(len(tasks)):
    drones[i]['task'] = tasks[i]
print(drones)

A TypeError: 'int' object is not subscriptable

B [{'id': 1, 'task': 'scan'}, {'id': 2, 'task': 'deliver'}]

C [{'id': 1, 'task': 'scan'}, {'id': 2, 'task': 'deliver'}, {'id': 3, 'task': 'survey'}]

D IndexError: list index out of range

💡 Hint

Check the loop range versus drones list length.

The loop tries to assign a task to drones[2], but drones only has 2 elements (index 0 and 1), causing IndexError.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Syntax error in drone status update function

Which option contains the correct syntax for updating drone status in Python?

Drone Programming

def update_status(drone, status):
    drone['status'] = status
    return drone

# Call example
update_status({'id': 1}, 'active')

A

def update_status(drone, status):
    drone['status'] = status
    return drone

B

def update_status(drone, status):
    drone.status = status
    return drone

C

def update_status(drone, status):
    drone['status'] == status
    return drone

D

def update_status(drone, status)
    drone['status'] = status
    return drone

💡 Hint

Check function definition and dictionary assignment syntax.

Option A uses correct function syntax and dictionary key assignment with '='.

🚀 Application

expert

Number of unique drone communication pairs

In a fleet of 6 drones, each drone communicates directly with every other drone exactly once. How many unique communication pairs are there?

A 30

B 15

C 12

D 36

💡 Hint

Use the formula for combinations of 6 items taken 2 at a time.

The number of unique pairs is 6 choose 2 = 6*5/2 = 15.

Practice

1. What is the main goal of multi-drone coordination in drone programming?

easy

A. To make drones fly faster than sound

B. To let many drones share work safely and efficiently

C. To program drones to work alone without communication

D. To reduce the battery life of drones

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of coordination

   Coordination means working together safely and efficiently.

2. Step 2: Match the goal with options

   Only To let many drones share work safely and efficiently talks about sharing work safely and efficiently.

3. Final Answer:

   To let many drones share work safely and efficiently -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Coordination = safe, efficient teamwork [OK]

Hint: Coordination means teamwork and safety [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking coordination means flying faster
• Ignoring communication between drones
• Confusing coordination with solo drone tasks

2. Which of the following is the correct way to assign tasks to multiple drones in a coordination program?

easy

A. Assign tasks randomly without checking

B. Ignore task assignment and let drones decide

C. Assign all tasks to one drone only

D. Assign tasks clearly and check progress often

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify best practice for task assignment

   Clear task assignment and progress checks avoid confusion.

2. Step 2: Compare options with best practice

   Only Assign tasks clearly and check progress often matches clear assignment and progress checking.

3. Final Answer:

   Assign tasks clearly and check progress often -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Clear tasks + progress check = good coordination [OK]

Hint: Clear tasks and checks keep drones on track [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assigning tasks randomly
• Giving all tasks to one drone
• Ignoring progress monitoring

3. Consider this pseudo-code for coordinating two drones:

tasks = ['scan', 'deliver']
drones = ['drone1', 'drone2']
assignments = {}
for i in range(len(drones)):
    assignments[drones[i]] = tasks[i]
print(assignments)

What will be the output?

medium

A. {}

B. {'drone1': 'deliver', 'drone2': 'scan'}

C. {'drone1': 'scan', 'drone2': 'deliver'}

D. Error: Index out of range

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the loop and assignments

   Loop runs twice (0 and 1), assigning tasks[0] to drone1 and tasks[1] to drone2.

2. Step 2: Determine final dictionary content

   assignments = {'drone1': 'scan', 'drone2': 'deliver'}

3. Final Answer:

   {'drone1': 'scan', 'drone2': 'deliver'} -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Index matches tasks to drones correctly [OK]

Hint: Match index of drones and tasks in loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping task order
• Thinking index error occurs
• Expecting empty dictionary

4. This code tries to assign tasks to drones but causes an error:

tasks = ['scan', 'deliver']
drones = ['drone1']
assignments = {}
for i in range(len(drones)):
    assignments[drones[i]] = tasks[i]
print(assignments)

What is the error and how to fix it?

medium

A. IndexError because tasks list is longer than drones; fix by matching list sizes

B. SyntaxError due to missing colon; fix by adding colon after for

C. TypeError because assignments is not a list; fix by using a list

D. No error; code runs fine

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of error

   Loop runs once (len(drones)=1), but tasks[1] is accessed if loop ran more times; here no error yet but if loop ran more, IndexError occurs.

2. Step 2: Fix by matching list sizes

   Ensure drones and tasks lists have same length to avoid index errors.

3. Final Answer:

   IndexError because tasks list is longer than drones; fix by matching list sizes -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   List length mismatch causes index error [OK]

Hint: Check list lengths before looping [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing syntax error with index error
• Thinking assignments must be a list
• Ignoring list length mismatch

5. You want to coordinate 3 drones to cover 3 zones without overlap. Which approach best ensures safe, efficient coverage?

hard

A. Assign each drone a unique zone and confirm completion before next task

B. Let all drones fly randomly and cover zones as they find them

C. Assign all zones to one drone and keep others idle

D. Assign zones without communication and hope for no collisions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand safe and efficient coverage

   Unique assignments prevent overlap and collisions.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for coordination quality

   Only Assign each drone a unique zone and confirm completion before next task assigns unique zones and confirms completion, ensuring safety and efficiency.

3. Final Answer:

   Assign each drone a unique zone and confirm completion before next task -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Unique tasks + confirmation = safe, efficient coordination [OK]

Hint: Unique tasks plus confirmation prevent overlap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring communication and confirmation
• Assigning all tasks to one drone
• Allowing random flying without control