UAV Programming – A Hands-on Experience

Instructor 

Dr. Md Tauhidur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Eng., Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Learning Objectives

This Micro-Certificate provides practical training in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) setup, programming, and security assessment. Participants will learn to configure and program real UAVs while exploring security vulnerabilities and cyber threats. This program equips learners with essential skills for UAV development and cybersecurity.

This Micro-Certificate provides practical training in UAV programming and security assessment. The first unit covers the experimental setup and UAV programming, where participants learn to configure and program real UAVs for various applications. The second unit focuses on the security assessment of UAVs, equipping learners with the skills to evaluate and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

• Unit 1: UAV Programming: this unit provides a foundational understanding of UAV programming, guiding students through both environment setup and hands-on deployment. The first section introduces the essential software, tools, and frameworks required for UAV programming, ensuring students can install, configure, and establish a fully functional development environment. In the second section, students transition from setup to practical application, writing, deploying, and executing programs on real UAVs. This hands-on experience bridges the gap between simulation and real-world operation, deepening their understanding of flight dynamics, sensor interactions, and autonomous control.
• Unit 2: UAV Security Assessment: The security assessment of UAVs is crucial as UAVs become increasingly integrated into various industries, making them prime targets for cyber threats, unauthorized access, and communication breaches. Ensuring their security is essential to prevent potential exploits that could compromise safety and operations. This unit begins with setting up the necessary tools, software, and hardware for effective vulnerability testing. Students then explore wireless communication security by analyzing encryption keys and potential vulnerabilities in UAV-ground station transmissions. The unit also includes hands-on security testing using the Damn Vulnerable Drone Simulator (DVDS), allowing students to conduct penetration testing, assess weaknesses, and develop countermeasures in a controlled environment. By the end of this module, students will have a solid understanding of UAV security risks and assessment methodologies, equipping them with the skills needed to analyze, test, and enhance drone security for real-world applications.

Prerequisites:

• A background in Digital Electronics, Embedded Systems, Networking, and C/C++/Python is desirable but not required.
• MEST Micro-Certificate: Secure UAV Design

Target Audience

Designed for U.S. citizens working in the Department of War, Government, or Government-affiliated employees, industry, as well as college students and faculty. Must register with your organizational email, and will be notified of acceptance within one week of the course start date.

Biography

Dr. Tauhidur Rahman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida in 2017 (advised by Dr. Mark Tehranipoor). He is the recipient of NSF CRII and the director of the SeRLoP (Security, Reliability, Low-power, and Privacy) Research lab. His research interests include hardware security and trust, side-channel analysis, and embedded security. His research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and CyberFlorida.