Search and rescue assistance in Drone Programming - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Drone path calculation output

What is the output of this drone path calculation code snippet?

Drone Programming

def calculate_path(start, end):
    path = []
    x, y = start
    ex, ey = end
    while x != ex or y != ey:
        if x < ex:
            x += 1
        elif x > ex:
            x -= 1
        if y < ey:
            y += 1
        elif y > ey:
            y -= 1
        path.append((x, y))
    return path

print(calculate_path((0, 0), (2, 1)))

A [(1, 1), (1, 0), (2, 1)]

B [(0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1)]

C [(1, 0), (2, 0), (2, 1)]

D [(1, 1), (2, 1)]

💡 Hint

Trace the increments of x and y carefully in the loop.

The code increments x and y towards the end point simultaneously. Starting at (0,0), x increments to 1 and y increments to 1, then x increments to 2 while y stays at 1, producing [(1,1), (2,1)].

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding drone sensor data filtering

A drone receives noisy sensor data for temperature readings. Which method best filters out sudden spikes while keeping the trend smooth?

A Apply a moving average filter over the last 5 readings

B Use the maximum value from the last 3 readings

C Take the difference between consecutive readings

D Ignore all readings below a fixed threshold

💡 Hint

Think about smoothing data to reduce noise.

A moving average filter smooths out sudden spikes by averaging recent values, preserving the overall trend better than max or difference methods.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Fix the drone battery check logic

What error does this drone battery check code raise when battery_level is 15?

Drone Programming

battery_level = 15
if battery_level > 20:
    status = 'Full'
elif battery_level > 10:
    status = 'Medium'
else:
    status = 'Low'
print(status)

A SyntaxError due to missing colon after else

B NameError because status is not defined

C TypeError from comparing int and str

D No error, prints 'Medium'

💡 Hint

Check the syntax of the else statement.

The else statement is missing a colon, causing a SyntaxError before the code runs.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Drone search grid coverage count

What is the number of unique grid cells covered by the drone after this movement sequence?

Drone Programming

moves = ['N', 'N', 'E', 'E', 'S', 'W', 'W', 'N']
visited = set()
x, y = 0, 0
visited.add((x, y))
for move in moves:
    if move == 'N':
        y += 1
    elif move == 'S':
        y -= 1
    elif move == 'E':
        x += 1
    elif move == 'W':
        x -= 1
    visited.add((x, y))
print(len(visited))

A 8

B 6

C 7

D 9

💡 Hint

Count each unique coordinate visited after each move.

The drone visits these coordinates: (0,0), (0,1), (0,2), (1,2), (2,2), (2,1), (1,1). Total unique cells = 7.

🚀 Application

expert

Optimizing drone search pattern for battery life

Given a drone must search a rectangular area of 10x5 units and return to start, which path minimizes total distance traveled?

A Fly around the perimeter only, skipping inner area

B Fly in a zigzag pattern row by row, then return directly to start

C Fly diagonally corner to corner, then cover remaining cells randomly

D Fly in a spiral from center outward, then back to center

💡 Hint

Consider covering all cells efficiently without backtracking.

Zigzag row-by-row covers all cells systematically with minimal overlap and shortest return path, optimizing battery use.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a drone programmed for search and rescue assistance?

easy

A. To find missing persons and send their location quickly

B. To deliver packages to remote areas

C. To take aerial photos for tourism

D. To monitor weather patterns

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of search and rescue drones

   These drones are designed to locate missing people or targets in emergency situations.

2. Step 2: Identify the key function

   The main function is to find and report the location quickly to help rescue teams.

3. Final Answer:

   To find missing persons and send their location quickly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Search and rescue = find and report location [OK]

Hint: Search and rescue drones find and report targets fast [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing delivery drones with rescue drones
• Thinking drones only take photos
• Assuming drones monitor weather in rescue missions

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to start a drone's search function in drone programming?

easy

A. startSearch()

B. search.start()

C. begin_search

D. searchStart[]

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct function call syntax

   Functions are called with parentheses like startSearch().

2. Step 2: Check other options for syntax errors

   search.start() is method call but not standard here; begin_search lacks parentheses; searchStart[] uses brackets incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   startSearch() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Function calls use parentheses () [OK]

Hint: Function calls always use parentheses () [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting parentheses when calling functions
• Using brackets [] instead of parentheses
• Confusing method call syntax with function call

3. What will the following drone program output if the target is found at coordinates (10, 20)?

def search_area():
    target = (10, 20)
    found = True
    if found:
        return f"Target located at {target}"
    else:
        return "Target not found"

print(search_area())

medium

A. Target not found

B. Error: target undefined

C. Target located at (10, 20)

D. None

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the function logic

   The variable found is True, so the if condition is met.

2. Step 2: Determine the returned string

   The function returns the string with the target coordinates formatted inside.

3. Final Answer:

   Target located at (10, 20) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   found=True returns target location string [OK]

Hint: If found is True, function returns location string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming found is False and returning 'Target not found'
• Confusing tuple printing with string output
• Expecting an error due to variable scope

4. Identify the error in this drone search code snippet:

def scan_area():
    target_found = False
    if target_found = True:
        print("Target found!")
    else:
        print("Searching...")

scan_area()

medium

A. Function scan_area is not called

B. Missing parentheses in print statements

C. Variable target_found is not defined

D. Using assignment '=' instead of comparison '==' in if condition

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the if condition syntax

   The condition uses '=' which assigns value, but it should compare using '=='.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts of the code

   Print statements have parentheses, function is called, and variable is defined correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   Using assignment '=' instead of comparison '==' in if condition -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use '==' for comparison in if statements [OK]

Hint: Use '==' to compare, '=' is for assignment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing '=' with '==' in conditions
• Forgetting to call the function
• Missing parentheses in print (Python 3)

5. You want a drone to scan multiple zones and report all found targets with their locations. Which code snippet correctly collects and returns all found targets in a dictionary with zone names as keys? Options: A)

def scan_zones(zones):
    results = {}
    for zone in zones:
        found = scan(zone)
        if found:
            results[zone] = found
    return results

B)

def scan_zones(zones):
    results = []
    for zone in zones:
        found = scan(zone)
        if found:
            results.append({zone: found})
    return results

C)

def scan_zones(zones):
    results = {}
    for zone in zones:
        found = scan(zone)
        results[zone] = found
    return results

D)

def scan_zones(zones):
    results = {}
    for zone in zones:
        if scan(zone):
            results.append(zone)
    return results

hard

A. Collects found targets in a list of dictionaries, not a single dict

B. Collects found targets in a dictionary with zone keys correctly

C. Adds all zones including those without targets (found may be False)

D. Uses append on a dictionary, which causes an error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want a dictionary with zones as keys and found targets as values, only if found.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   The snippet that adds only found targets to a dict is correct; the one that uses a list of dicts produces the wrong structure; the one that adds all zones includes those without targets; the one that tries to append to a dict causes an error.

3. Final Answer:

   Collects found targets in a dictionary with zone keys correctly -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Dict with keys for found targets only = Collects found targets in a dictionary with zone keys correctly [OK]

Hint: Use dict and add only found targets with keys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding all zones even if no target found
• Using list instead of dictionary for key-value pairs
• Trying to append to a dictionary (invalid)