Why swarms multiply drone capability in Drone Programming - Challenge Your Understanding

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of swarm coordination message broadcast

Consider a drone swarm where each drone broadcasts a message to all others. What is the output of the following code simulating message counts after one broadcast cycle?

Drone Programming

class Drone:
    def __init__(self, id):
        self.id = id
        self.received_messages = 0

    def broadcast(self, swarm):
        for drone in swarm:
            if drone.id != self.id:
                drone.received_messages += 1

swarm = [Drone(i) for i in range(3)]
for drone in swarm:
    drone.broadcast(swarm)

result = [d.received_messages for d in swarm]
print(result)

A [3, 3, 3]

B [2, 2, 2]

C [1, 1, 1]

D [0, 0, 0]

💡 Hint

Each drone sends messages to all other drones except itself.

Each of the 3 drones sends a message to the other 2 drones, so each drone receives 2 messages total.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Why does a drone swarm improve area coverage?

Which reason best explains why a swarm of drones covers a larger area faster than a single drone?

A Swarm drones reduce the need for GPS signals.

B A single drone flies faster than multiple drones combined.

C Swarm drones share batteries to extend flight time.

D Multiple drones can split the area and scan different parts simultaneously.

💡 Hint

Think about how dividing work helps get it done faster.

Multiple drones can divide the area into parts and scan them at the same time, speeding up coverage.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in swarm leader election code

This code tries to elect the drone with the highest battery as leader. What error does it cause?

Drone Programming

drones = [{'id': 1, 'battery': 50}, {'id': 2, 'battery': 80}, {'id': 3, 'battery': 30}]
leader = max(drones, key=lambda d: d['battery'])
print(f"Leader is drone {leader['id']}")

A AttributeError because dicts use [] not . to access keys

B SyntaxError due to missing colon in lambda

C TypeError because max() needs a list of numbers

D No error, prints 'Leader is drone 2'

💡 Hint

Check how dictionary keys are accessed in Python.

The code tries to access dictionary keys with dot notation, which causes AttributeError.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Find the syntax error in swarm status update

What is wrong with this code snippet updating drone statuses in a swarm?

Drone Programming

statuses = {drone.id: 'active' for drone in swarm if drone.battery > 20}
print(statuses)

A Missing closing bracket '}' for dictionary comprehension

B Using parentheses instead of square brackets for dictionary keys

C Incorrect indentation of print statement

D Missing colon ':' after 'for' keyword

💡 Hint

Check if all brackets are properly closed.

The dictionary comprehension is missing the closing '}' bracket before the print statement.

🚀 Application

expert

Calculate total swarm payload capacity

Given a list of drones with individual payload capacities, what is the total payload capacity of the swarm?

Drone Programming

drones = [{'id': 1, 'payload': 5.0}, {'id': 2, 'payload': 7.5}, {'id': 3, 'payload': 6.0}]
total_payload = sum(drone['payload'] for drone in drones)
print(total_payload)

A None

B 3

C 18.5

D Error due to missing import

💡 Hint

Add all payload values from each drone.

Summing 5.0 + 7.5 + 6.0 equals 18.5, the total payload capacity.