🛩️Attempt A Certification

You will need a webcam and a microphone in order to successfully record a certification attempt

If you already know how to record your screen and camera, you only need to follow Steps 3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5. Just make sure, whatever recording service you use, that you are recording your camera and your screen at the same time.

Step 1: Create Zoom Account

If you do not have a Zoom account, create one. If you have a Zoom account, skip to Step 2

Visit One platform to connect | Zoom and sign up for a free account
Download and Install Zoom on that same computer that you have Zephyr installed.

Step 2: Setup and Start Zoom Meeting

Start a Zoom meeting with yourself and start recording the meeting

Open Zoom and select “New Meeting”

2. Your meeting should start and you should see your webcam recording and a prompt to “Join audio.” Click “Join with Computer Audio”

3. Ensure your microphone is working by selecting the dropdown arrow on the Microphone Icon, then selecting “Test Speaker & Microphone…” This will walk you through instructions to verify that your microphone and speakers are working properly

4. Click “Share Screen” at the bottom of the Zoom call and select the “Desktop #” window that you will be using for Zephyr (in the example “Desktop 2” is where we will be running Zephyr)

The Zephyr Simulator may be running on a different Desktop window than the one in the example image. Make sure the simulator will be running/visible in the selected Desktop window.

Zoom will highlight the border of the Desktop you will be sharing. Make sure the Zephyr simulator will be running in that window.

Your Zoom call window should automatically minimize and a Zoom Toolbar should appear next to a smaller window that displays your webcam video

Press the “… More” button on the Zoom Toolbar and select “Record”

You should hear “Recording in progress” to verify that your meeting it being recorded

For details on Zoom Recordings, refer to the Zoom Documentation here Enabling and starting local recordings - Zoom Support

Step 3: Attempt Your Certification

The recording should only include the one attempt showing you successfully completing the test

Now that your meeting is being recorded, introduce yourself, verify your identity, and attempt your certification run.

Address the camera and state:
1. Your Name
2. The Date and Time
3. The Name of the Certification you are attempting
  1. For example: “My name is John Smith. It is Thursday, May 26, 2022, 11:30am. I am attempting a Virtual BPERP Certification”
Show the camera a form of identification that shows your name and your photo

If you have a blurred or other background effect in Zoom, you may need to disable it for the ID to show properly

Feel free to hide any other information on your ID, but ensure that your name and your photo are visible to the camera

Launch Zephyr (if you have not already) and load the module that corresponds to the certification you are attempting

If you have multiple displays, make sure Zephyr is running on the display that you shared in the Zoom call in Step 2.4

Fly through and complete the scenario. When you reach the report/score screen you may stop the Zoom recording by selecting the “… More” button on the Zoom Toolbar and selecting “Stop Recording”

Your recording will not be processed and saved until you end the Zoom call

Step 4: End Meeting and Save Your Certification Attempt

End the Zoom meeting, save the recording, review the recording, upload the recording, submit the attempt on Zephyr

End the Zoom meeting by pressing the “End” button then select “End Meeting for All”

Once you end the Zoom call, a prompt should appear that says “Converting meeting recording”

Your video should be automatically saved once it’s processed to your Zoom folder on your computer. For details, follow this Zoom Documentation Finding and viewing local recordings - Zoom Support

If you have a Free Zoom account, the video must be saved to your local computer. If you have a Zoom account with cloud recording support, your recording may be saved to your online Zoom account. For details and instructions on where to find and share these recordings, please follow the Zoom Documentation Managing and sharing cloud recordings - Zoom Support

3. Locate your recording on your computer and review the video to ensure the following:

It captured your introduction
It captured your entire attempt (the Zephyr simulator window was captured and you are able to see the entire drone operation)
It captured your webcam during the entire attempt

4. Upload the recording to a cloud storage service of your choosing. For example, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc.

It is not required, but it may be beneficial to transcode your video to a smaller size for uploading and storage. We recommend tools like HandBrake or Adobe Media Encoder

Note: the video resolution should be no less than 1080p

Once you have uploaded your recording to your cloud storage platform, retrieve a sharable link that you can submit to Zephyr for review

Make sure the link is publicly accessible. By default, many cloud storage platforms create your link private. You will need to make it public for Reviewers to access your attempt.

Step 5: Submit Your Certification Attempt

Submit your attempt on the Zephyr website

Log in to your account on Zephyr-Sim.com and navigate to your Certifications tab
Locate your Certification attempt in progress and select “Manage”
Paste the link to your video submission in the “Submission URL” box
Click SUBMIT

Your Certification status will change to “In Review.” A proctor will review and update the submission as soon as possible. You will get a notification email when your submission has been reviewed

Step 6: Await your Attempt to be Reviewed

A Reviewer will review your attempt and either approve, deny, or prompt a reattempt. You will receive email notifications throughout the entire certification review process.

If your certification is denied or awaiting reattempt: