During this past year alone, the computer manufacturing company Intel dazzled audiences around the world with their drone displays. These drone formations marveled spectators during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, as well as a recent event in Coachella.
Intel made headlines using the drones yet again this week. This time, the software juggernaut teamed up with TIME magazine.
TIME Magazine Cover Creation:
Using Intel’s own Shooting Star drones (which were used in previous events), they displayed TIME’s logo into the night sky. It took 958 drones in total to pull off the grand spectacle – a logo over 300 feet in size. The event took place in California, with the aim of making a cover for the magazine with the drones lighting up the skies.
Drones are not done yet with the event, however. Along with being the ones actually lighting up the show, another drone also took flight to get the photo of the display. The Astraeus Aerial drone captured the scene and perfectly nailed the shot.
All in all, a pretty great night for drones.
If you think about it, it sounds like the next step in night sky display evolution. The longest running championship in night celebrations has always belonged to fireworks displays. They have been present in celebrations since the invention of the gunpowder. Decades upon decades of dominance, but it seems technology caught up with this ancient invention.
Drones built with LED lights fly in coordinated (preprogrammed) formations now run the show. This drone system has a ton of advantages over its ancient predecessor. For one, drones do not produce loud sounds that accompany firework detonation. Noxious gases also do not accompany these shows, unlike firework celebrations. Lastly, fireworks only last a short amount of time. Drones can last several minutes to half an hour (as long as the batteries are capable) to show their patterns. Fireworks can only hold patterns for a few seconds before dissolving into the night sky.
There is even talk of phasing out firework displays altogether during celebrations. Phase them out, and replace them with drone presentations instead.
Rest assured, with all these positives, you will see more of these drone shows in the near future. Maybe even at an event near you!
