@robolink_leila . Thanks! I've tried these changes you suggested and they do seem to solve the COM3 port problem. Going forward, we'll call out the COM port in our pairing statements, along with the drone ID! Definitely appreciate your quick response. Our students that have been flying already are really enjoying the coding and flying experience. This should fix the issues for those that haven't yet been able to fly consistently.

3/16 Successes and Failures...appreciate your feedback!
I've implemented your recommendations but my classes are still having mixed success in just getting pairing and program loaded consistently. Our basic sequence is:

1. Develop python code in pycharm, including use of either drone.pair() or drone.pair("ID#").
2. Place battery into drone and plug serial cable into computer and BLE board.
3. Run python code

Sometimes, all it takes is the above to get it to takeoff. However, at least half of the time, the program comes back saying it cannot find the drone. We try an array of different things like removing/re-seating battery, unplug/re-mating serial cable at computer, pushing reset button BLE board. Occasionally one of these actions works and once it pairs and loads one time, it seems easier to pair and load again.

My classroom size is ~30ft x 15ft and I'm limiting to 5 drones/class. I'm still having to take 3 groups outside of the class to other areas of the school to isolate them. Not sure if this is necessary, but sometimes they're able to fly in other parts of the school but not in our classroom. Seems strange.
One thing we've noticed is that when the code starts running and says it's on COM3 port, it doesn't connect. The port number seems to have major influence on whether it pairs and loads the program. Sometimes I plug in a remote control and run the program and it says COM21 or COM13, or COM23....usually it pairs and flys in this case. Other times I plug in remote control and it stays on COM3....it never pairs in this case. Not sure what is causing the COM port selection. I'm just running the same python code each time. Do you know if there's a setting in PyCharm (or on my computer) that needs to change? Haven't found it so far?
In general, we are having more success than we initially were, so I think we're on the right path. If we could just figure out the COM port situation and how to get away from COM3.
Thanks again!
Bryan

Ok great, we'll try that also! Thanks for the quick responses today. This should put on the path toward getting them consistently pairing, python code loaded and executed.

Thanks Leila. I'll work through your recommendations after school today, such that we have more consistent pairing and loading experiences tomorrow. Some students were able to get their drones flying using the sequence we'd kind of figured out, but it's definitely nice to have your response on this! Regarding the paring to a specific ID, I'm getting an error message back when I enter the 4 digit ID:

Any suggestions on how to resolve? Also, if the 4 digit ID starts with a "0", I've noticed there are errors in code. For example, for ID 0013, should I just use "13" for the ID?
Thanks!

Hi - I purchased a classroom set of the CoDrone Pro drones and am trying to understand basic setup, pairing, and flying to get my 9th grade students going. We are trying to use Python to program the drones and students all downloaded both Python 3.8 and PyCharm in class earlier this week. Here are some of my problem areas:

1. Pairing: I've tried to use the "pair()" command and then physically label the remote control and drones together. My pairing sequence has basically been to plug in serial cable between computer and remote control (with DIP switches all in down position), install battery in drone and wait for pairing...which usually happens in several seconds. This process works fine when it's only me in the classroom. When I have several students doing this simultaneously, we have problems pairing. Our class room is roughly 25' x 40' and we had 5 drones spread out yesterday and during entire class, we were only able to successfully pair 1 of the 5 drones. Any suggestions? I figured out how to get the 4 digit unique ID for each drone, but not sure how to use it since pairing seems to occur automatically as noted above when I plug in the remote control and add battery to drone. Why does there need to also be a "pair()" statement in the Python code?

2. Another basic question: If I'm strictly just using the bluetooth portion of the remote control, and have the remote control serially connected to the computer, does the remote control really need AA batteries? Seems like I was able to pair, upload and execute the program on the drone several times yesterday without batteries in the remote control.

3. Loading the Python program: After pairing, I've been attempting to run some of the sample programs you provided in the "Flight Movements" on-line web page. After about 30s, sometimes the drone takes off and executes the programs fine. Some other remote control/drone combinations despite pairing right away never take off, though the Python program runs fully with no errors. I'm confused on the basic sequence for loading a Python program. There is a YouTube Video "Uploading Flight Controller Program" that discusses loading with left most DIP switch in up position. Is that what I should be doing? The video is focused on uploading through Arduino IDE and we're attempting to use Python, so I'm confused. Just looking for basic step-by-step sequence when uploading a program to drone through the PyCharm IDE.

4. There seems to be wide variation in drone performance: Though most drones run the self-calibration fine, when running one of the sample "flight movement" programs, some drones still behave erratically (even when running calibration just prior to executing program). Makes me think something is not right maybe in the program uploading process (problem with bluetooth board?).
   Anyway, lots of problems just getting started....any help you can provide is much appreciated.
   Bryan

Ok thanks, we'll give this a try.

What I'm meaning to ask is how to find the unique ID for each CoDrone Pro drone....I've seen a couple of explanations, one had a link to instructions but link no longer worked. The other didn't provide sufficient detail. Thanks for any suggestions!!!
Bryan

In looking through the previous posts, I know this topic has been covered, however I still can't seem to get an address for each drone. There seems to be an Arduino sketch "pair" that will do this, but it doesn't seem to upload correctly, so I can't view the actual address using the Arduino Serial Monitor. Do you have some step by step instructions somewhere (including configuration of switches on the Remote Control during this pairing process)?
Thanks!
Bryan

Great, thanks for the ideas!

I will be an engineering instructor at a new magnet high school in Huntsville Alabama (opening this Fall...hopefully) which will focus on introducing cyber security and engineering to students. I am planning on purchasing a set of the codrone pro units for the classes. To introduce cyber security, was just wondering if there's a way for some of the security setting to be disabled temporarily such that a student controlling one drone could also possibly "hack" into another operator's drone. Or, if you have other suggestions on how we could use these drones to teach students about cyber security, please offer suggestions!
Thanks!