We can all agree that there's nothing wrong with a little publicity stunt, as long as it's awesome, right? I think that Intel has achieved that with this video they released during their CES keynote last week in Las Vegas. It's pretty straightforward actually, just 100 drones flown simultaneously in the sky while performing a choreographed light routine as a live orchestra played Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Go big or go home, right?
The official record was for most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) airborne simultaneously. The amazing display was made possible due to a wide variety of new and innovative technology. Intel hired a team from Ars Electronica Futurelab in Austria to spearhead the project. The team created an original piece of software that allowed the 100 UAVs to follow specific flight paths, manage light colors and changes, and maintain coordinated movement between the aircraft while performing on-time with the music being played below.
The drone's paths were originally drawn out by hand before being input into 3D design software so as to allow precise coordination for each aircraft's movement. The resulting performance is amazing and unlike anything I have ever seen before. I think it is entirely conceivable that such displays could eventually replace traditional firework shows with something far more intricate and beautiful than your typical Fourth of July display.
Intel also released a behind-the-scenes video to give us a better look at how their team was able to bring the project from imagination to reality:
hope they checked to make sure they were all licensed by the feds. don't want any rouge drones out there.
They filmed it in Europe not the US, so you're safe.