Fall 2025 Inquiry Miner Mayhem Programs
The purpose of this lesson is to teach students the basic concepts of radio control, and how to read values from their FlySky controller. Students will learn:
How radio control works
How to read values
Turn on the Arduino built-in LED
Your fully wired MESA Combat Robot
Remove batteries before starting the activity
1x USB A-to-USB B upload cable
1x FlySky Controller
Chromebook or laptop for each student
Access to Arduino web editor (https://app.arduino.cc) with Arduino Create Agent installed or the Arduino IDE
Instructions on how to use the Arduino web editor here.
Flowchart: A visual tool used by programmers to make a larger, more complicated program.
Data/Data signal: The information that gets collected about a physical quantity. Data can be a number like voltage or it can be a state like true or false, and high or low.
Input: a data signal that is received by a device. We say we read an input on an Arduino when a sensor sends a signal to the Arduino.
Output: A data signal that is sent by a device (in our case, the Arduino). We say we send an output to an actuator from the Arduino.
Variable: A place to store data on Arduino. We declare a variable name before storing the data.
Radio Control: A method of communication for small robots and toys which use waves to send data signals between a transmitter (controller) and receiver (the robot).
Serial Communication: A method of sending large data signals between microcontrollers and computers.
Pulse: A high or low data signal which is sent for a certain period of time. The duration of a pulse provides more information about the data signal.
Using the Arduino Web Editor
Introduction to Programming an Arduino
How radio signals for RC toys work
Serial communication
As you write the code for your students, you may write the code alongside them, sharing your own screen to see exactly where each line goes. The downloadable code is intended for your reference while following the activity.
If you find that the activity is not properly working, make sure to double check you/your students' wiring and code against ours. Working with electronics and Arduinos can be difficult and much of the learning process (for students and teachers) is in the troubleshooting. That being said, if it seems like the activity is still not working or you are stuck, let us know! Send us an email and we will work to troubleshoot as much as possible!