Drone art
Coordinated drone flights with LEDs create reusable, low-pollution night displays.
Drone art, sometimes called a drone display or drone light show, involves multiple unmanned aerial vehicles—often quadcopters—flying together in a coordinated pattern while carrying lights. These drones typically have several LEDs, and the shows take place at night. Unlike fireworks, the drones can be used again and again, and they create no air or noise pollution. However, the displays cannot operate in rain or strong winds.
The first such display took place in June 2012 in Cannes, France, when the group Marshmallow Laser Feast presented "Meet Your Creator" at the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors' Showcase during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Intel developed a drone model called the Shooting Star specifically for light shows. These drones appeared at the 2018 Winter Olympics, a Super Bowl halftime show in 2017, and a 2018 Fourth of July celebration. During the 2020s, some U.S. cities replaced their Independence Day fireworks with drone or laser shows to lower fire risk, reduce air pollution, and avoid disturbing dogs or people with PTSD. Safety concerns have also arisen from malfunctions: before a match at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, 350 out of 500 performing drones fell into the water due to a glitch. In December 2024, a missing flight path caused some drones to collide in a 500-drone show in Orlando, Florida. Many drones fell; one struck a seven-year-old boy, causing heart damage that required open-heart surgery.
Drone displays are mainly used for entertainment or advertising. The drones can exhibit flocking or swarming behavior. Real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) technology gives them precise relative positioning down to the centimeter scale. Each drone follows a preprogrammed flight path to create its part of the image. As technology improves, shows use more drones each year. Notable displays are listed for breaking records, using new technologies, or gaining other significance; a more complete list can be found in the List of drone displays.
Drone teams include Ars Electronica Futurelab. Related topics include aerial advertising, son et lumière shows, laser lighting displays, light art, and swarm robotics.
- First display date
- June 2012
- First display location
- Cannes, France
- First display presenter
- Marshmallow Laser Feast
- First display event
- Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors' Showcase for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
- Drone type used by intel
- Shooting Star
- Notable events
- 2018 Winter Olympics, 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, 2018 Fourth of July celebration
- 2023 fifa women's world cup malfunction
- 350 of 500 drones plunged into water due to a glitch
- 2024 orlando show collision
- 500-drone show; one drone landed on a seven-year-old boy, causing heart damage requiring open-heart surgery
Lore & Background
The first drone display was presented in June 2012 in Cannes, France, by Marshmallow Laser Feast at the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors' Showcase for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Intel produced the Shooting Star, a type of drone used in light shows, which was used during the 2018 Winter Olympics, a Super Bowl halftime show in 2017, and a 2018 Fourth of July celebration. In the 2020s, some cities in the United States replaced Independence Day fireworks displays with drone or laser light shows to reduce fire risk, air pollution, and the disturbance of dogs and people with PTSD. Concerns about safety have emerged in response to malfunctions: prior to a match in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, 350 of the 500 performing drones plunged into the water due to a glitch; in December 2024, missing flight path information led to drones colliding in a 500-drone Orlando, Florida show, with one drone landing on a seven-year-old boy and causing heart damage that required open-heart surgery.
Reader's Guide
Drone art is notable as a reusable, low-pollution alternative to fireworks, using multiple drones equipped with LEDs for nighttime entertainment or advertising. The technology relies on real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) for precise relative positioning to centimeter scale or better, with each drone following a preprogrammed flight path. The article notes that drone shows are using more and more drones every year as technology advances. Its significance is underscored by its adoption at major events such as the 2018 Winter Olympics, a 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, and a 2018 Fourth of July celebration, as well as by cities replacing fireworks with drone shows to reduce fire risk, air pollution, and disturbance to dogs and people with PTSD. However, the article also highlights safety concerns from malfunctions, including a 2023 incident where 350 of 500 drones fell into water due to a glitch, and a 2024 Orlando show where a drone caused severe injury to a child. These incidents illustrate both the potential and the risks of the medium.
Did You Know?
- Intel's Shooting Star drones were used at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a 2017 Super Bowl halftime show.
- In 2023, 350 of 500 drones plunged into water due to a glitch before a FIFA Women's World Cup match.
- A December 2024 Orlando show saw drones collide; one landed on a seven-year-old boy, causing heart damage requiring open-heart surgery.
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