This work advances educational methodologies by integrating critical systems assessment practices with open-source solutions, specifically focusing on autonomous drones tailored for surveillance applications. Commercially available drones typically offer broad usability but limited opportunities for customization, posing constraints in specialized operational scenarios such as surveillance missions. Addressing these limitations, this research emphasizes the necessity of developing educational frameworks that enable students and practitioners to build tailored autonomous drones, offering flexible and customizable solutions that align closely with real-world operational requirements. To fulfill this need, this work proposes a structured educational methodology designed to actively involve learners in the design, configuration, deployment, and optimization of drones tailored to specific surveillance contexts. Central to this approach are open-source software frameworks, particularly ArduPilot, which empower students and practitioners with extensive flexibility. These platforms provide robust architectures enabling extensive modifications, from adjusting drone performance parameters to integrating diverse hardware components. Moreover, the integration of the Speedybee platform facilitates real-time video streaming capabilities, which are crucial for effective remote monitoring and immediate visual feedback, particularly essential during dynamic surveillance scenarios. The presented educational framework effectively bridges theoretical knowledge and tangible, real-world practices, thereby significantly strengthening participants' competencies in critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative teamwork. Through structured practical exercises, learners gain hands-on experience configuring and operating autonomous drones, managing scenarios such as perimeter monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response, while leveraging real-time video streaming for instant visual insights. The methodology further emphasizes community engagement by encouraging collaboration within an open-source ecosystem. Learners actively participate in online forums, community-driven problem-solving activities, and interactions with global developer networks, thereby facilitating continuous innovation and collective learning. By integrating theoretical instruction with experiential, mission-oriented projects, the approach ensures comprehensive skill development, preparing students for the complex challenges they will encounter professionally. Furthermore, community-based learning encourages knowledge sharing, fosters collective problem-solving, and deepens understanding of interdisciplinary systems integration, enhancing readiness to address professional operational demands in diverse environments.

Keywords: Open-source solutions, educational framework, community-based learning, surveillance.