Going back just a few years, the concept of drone light shows would seem far beyond the realms of possibility. Now, drone light shows are a popular alternative to firework displays, and they’re revolutionizing the indoor entertainment space too. With cutting-edge technology joining forces with artistic vision, pre-programmed, light-emitting drones are used to create spellbinding displays for bands, artists, plays, musicals, and dance groups.
The fun of fireworks, indoors
Try as it might, the indoor firework and pyrotechnics industry has never quite captured the excitement of its outdoor counterparts. Lacking traditional fireworks’ characteristic boom and physical sensation, indoor fireworks and pyrotechnic displays typically leave audiences underwhelmed.
Modern audiences, especially, expect more from their light shows with these outdated special effects gradually being phased out in favour of lasers, holograms, and indoor drone light shows. Combined with music, lighting, and showmanship, they are bringing something to the table that has never been seen before in the indoor space.
They offer several distinct advantages over combustible displays too. Most significantly, drones are reusable. For an entertainment industry increasingly looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact, drone light shows offer a no-waste solution to entertaining audiences and fans. In addition, using dedicated charging stations, lightweight drones such as the ones used by Verity use very little energy. When possible, they can harness renewable sources for recharging, such as solar.
Choreographed light
One of the challenges of indoor drone light shows is that GPS signals can be unreliable. Innovation has led to several solutions, including pre-aligned “grid” displays where drones are laid out using exact positioning before a show. This flexibility is helpful for ever-changing sets and for set pieces where cast members and performers can reliably interact and perform with the drones.
The choreography of light drones is also achieved using April Tags. Similar to the QR codes, these allow drones to know where they are in an environment, with a CPU determining the 3D position of the drones relative to the tag.
More advanced systems allow even more intricate drone light shows. For example, the technology behind Verity’s indoor positioning system, known as “Kedge localization,” precisely calculates the boundaries of flight space and determines the location of each drone within it. This technology means drones do not need to carry cameras to read April Tags, allowing them to weigh as little as 50 grams. The upshot of this is that drones can perform even defter, more gravity-defying performances for longer, with zero risk to anyone.
Bespoke solutions
Whether it’s a permanent installation for a resident artist, a touring band that needs to accommodate different venues or a one-off showstopper, drone light shows bring the wows, time and time again.
The versatility of indoor drone light shows makes them suitable for almost any indoor space. Smaller spaces can use fewer drones, with larger areas able to accommodate as many as Verity’s record-breaking 160 drones.
These can be used to dapple a stage with starlight, create a sense of movement, change the mood of a scene with colour, or cluster together to create intricate, shape-shifting swarms. This is possible due to drones such as the Lucie micro drone offering extended flight times thanks to their minimal components.
Bespoke projects such as Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour have even introduced indoor drone light shows as part of the performances. Far from being simply background lighting, drones are now becoming integral to dance routines and used as props that immerse audiences. With the introduction of carefully designed “costumes”, drones can also be made to look like anything from jellyfish to floating lanterns.
Proven popularity
Despite the technology behind drone light shows being cutting-edge, they are already being put to use extensively by some of the world’s most prominent artists and performers.
Céline Dion, for example, made drones an integral part of her Courage World Tour, using them to significant effect during several performances. Metallica, too, has used drones to impress audiences with the swarms of Verity’s Lucie drones to create intricate patterns above the rockstars as they perform to thousands of fans.
New generations of artists are lighting up the stage, too, with Drake’s record-grossing hip-hop tour introducing 50,000 people at a time to the wonders of drone light shows. The drones not only act as interesting focal points to draw the audience’s attention across the stage but can act as mini backing dancers, moving in sync with the beat of the music, elevating the atmosphere considerably.
With artists, performers, and event organizers now looking to entertain directly and create memorable moments that can be shared on social media, drone light shows are helping indoor events stand out from the crowd.