Whether it’s a grand event, a celebration, or a creative performance, light drones have transformed the way we experience and appreciate captivating displays of light and movement.
These remarkable aerial displays combine UAV’s precision with synchronised lighting design. Drones used for light shows are designed and choreographed to create visual spectacles in the night sky. With their lightweight frames, LED lights, and advanced coordination systems, light drones move through the air, weaving intricate patterns, vibrant shapes, and entertaining animations.
In this article I’ll take a look at some of the light drones used for professional and personal use and how they work.
What are light drones?
Light drones used for night time entertainment are specially designed and optimized for creating synchronized aerial displays with lights.
The design of light drones varies between companies but they typically have the following characteristics:
- Lightweight and Compact: Light drones used in drone light shows are designed to be lightweight and compact, allowing for agile and precise movements. Like micro drones, their smaller size makes them easier to coordinate and control in large swarms.
- LED Lights: Each drone is equipped with LED lights that can change colors and brightness. These lights are often programmable, allowing for a wide range of visual effects and patterns. The LED lights are positioned strategically on the drone to maximize visibility during the show.
- Synchronization Capabilities: The drones used in drone light shows have sophisticated synchronization capabilities. They can communicate with a central control system and follow pre-programmed flight paths and light patterns to create synchronized movements and formations.
- Flight Stability and Precision: Light drones for drone light shows are designed to have stable flight characteristics and precise control. They may feature advanced stabilization systems, GPS positioning or indoor positioning systems, and altitude hold functions to ensure accurate and coordinated movements.
- Battery Life: Given that light drones need to be small and agile, they typically contain compact batteries with shorter than average drone flight time. Battery life may vary depending on the specific drone model and the complexity of the light show but most range from 3-15 minutes.
- Safety Features: Safety is a crucial consideration in drone light shows, this is another reason they are typically small and lightweight. Light drones usually have propellor guards to reduce damage since they are flown indoors and outdoors in many different environments.
- Ease of Maintenance: Light drones used in drone light shows are designed to be easily maintained and repaired. They may have modular components that can be quickly replaced in case of damage or malfunction.
Manufacturers such as Intel and Verity Studios specialize in creating light drones specifically for drone light shows, with models like the Intel Shooting Star and the Verity Lucie drones, respectively. These drones are optimized for synchronized aerial displays and have undergone extensive testing and development to ensure their suitability for creating safe entertainment for public light shows.
What is a drone light show?
Drone light shows involve a large number of drones flying in formation, creating intricate patterns, shapes, and even animations in the night sky. Each drone is equipped with LED lights that can change colors and brightness, creating captivating displays. The drones are controlled by a central computer system that coordinates their flight paths and light patterns.
Companies specializing in drone light shows often offer services to create custom displays tailored to specific events or themes. These displays can include choreographed movements, synchronized music, and even interactive elements where the drones respond to the audience or other external inputs.
What drones are used for light shows?
Drones used for light shows are sometimes referred to as “drone swarms”. These drones are programmed to create synchronized aerial displays with lights. They are often used for entertainment purposes, live events, celebrations, and artistic performances.
The drones used for light shows are usually small and lightweight, making them agile and capable of performing complex maneuvers. They are designed with safety features, such as collision avoidance sensors and GPS positioning, to ensure that the drones fly safely and maintain their formation.
Several drone manufacturers produce drones specifically designed for light shows. Some of the prominent manufacturers in this space include:
Intel Light Drones: Shooting Star
Intel is one of the leading companies in drone light show technology. They have developed the Intel Shooting Star drones, which are designed specifically for creating synchronized aerial displays with lights. These drones are lightweight, equipped with LED lights, and programmed to operate in large swarms.
Shooting Star light drones in charging station by Intel.
Lumasky Light Drones
Lumasky are a Dubai based light drone company that has performed over 100 shows all over the world. They are one of the largest in the industry with the ability to deploy up to 5000 light drones over a 1km wide area.
Lumasky light drones fly for up to 15 minutes and have been used by companies such as BVLGARI, McDonalds and Formula 1 racing events.
Verity Studios Light Drone: Lucie & Stage Flyer
Verity Studios is a Swiss company that have deployed their light drones for companies such as Cirque du Soleil. They have created the Lucie micro drone, which weighs only 50 grams and flies up to 3 minutes. These drones are designed for creating dynamic, synchronized light shows which can be flown indoors when paired with the indoor positioning system.
Verity Studios offer a unique spin on typical drone shows, their light drones can be adorned with costumes to transform the UAVs into mystical flying objects.
Left; Verity Stage Flyer designed for Cirque du Soleil. Right; The Verity Lucie light drone.
EHang Light Drones
EHang is a Chinese drone company that specializes in autonomous aerial vehicles. This company might sound familiar for one of their other famous developments; the heavy lift drone.
It only takes one drone pilot to operate over one thousand of their autonomous drones with a single computer.
How do drone light shows work?
Drone light shows are orchestrated displays that involve a coordinated fleet of drones equipped with LED lights. These shows typically follow a similar workflow, consisting of the following steps:
Planning: The first step in creating a drone light show is the planning phase. This involves determining the desired patterns, shapes, and animations that the drones will create in the sky. Choreographers and artists work closely with software engineers to design the show and create a script. Lumasky takes 1-2 weeks to design and choreograph the display in their 4 week implementation plan.
Drone Setup: The drones used in light shows are pre-programmed with flight paths and specific light patterns. Before the show, the drones are checked, calibrated, and equipped with the necessary LED lights. They may also undergo a GPS lock and position calibration process to ensure accurate flight paths.
Ground Control Station: A central ground control station is set up, typically with a computer system that runs specialized software to control the drones. The ground station communicates with each drone individually and coordinates their flight paths, timing, and light patterns.
Synchronization: Timing and synchronization are critical in drone light shows to create visually stunning displays. The software in the ground control station precisely controls each drone’s flight and light patterns to ensure they are synchronized with each other and any accompanying music or audio.
Safety Precautions: Safety is a paramount concern in drone light shows. Measures are taken to avoid collisions between the drones and ensure the safety of the audience. Drones may be equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors or follow predetermined flight paths that avoid sensitive areas.
Performance: Once everything is set up and synchronized, the drone light show begins. The drones take off and fly according to their pre-programmed flight paths. They maneuver in formations, create shapes, and display dynamic light patterns, all while maintaining synchronization with each other and the music or audio.
Post-Show: After the performance, the drones are safely landed and checked for any maintenance or battery replacement. The LED lights can be adjusted or changed as needed for future shows.
Throughout the entire process, the ground control station continuously monitors the drones’ status, flight paths, and light patterns to ensure the smooth execution of the show.
It’s worth noting that the specifics of how drone light shows work can vary depending on the technology and software used by different manufacturers and show producers.
Drone light shows vs Fireworks
Drone light shows and fireworks are both forms of night sky entertainment that create visually captivating displays.
These are some of the top reasons that light drones are the new and improved version of fireworks:
Visual Effects: Fireworks are known for their explosive bursts of colorful lights, accompanied by loud sounds and trails of sparks. They create a sense of spectacle and awe through their intense and dynamic displays.
Drone light shows, however, use synchronized movements of drones equipped with LED lights to create patterns, shapes, and animations in the sky. They offer a more controlled and precise visual experience, with the ability to create complex and intricate designs.
Safety: Fireworks involve the use of explosive materials, making them potentially hazardous and requiring careful handling. There are safety concerns related to the risk of fire, accidental explosions, and injuries.
Drone light shows, in contrast, are generally considered safer since they don’t involve explosive materials. However, safety precautions are still taken to prevent collisions between drones and ensure the safety of the audience.
Environmental Impact: Fireworks produce smoke, fumes, and debris, which can contribute to air and noise pollution. The chemicals used in fireworks have also been shown to pollute soil and waterways.
Light drones are generally considered to have a lower environmental impact since they don’t produce harmful emissions or debris. However, the batteries used in drones have their own environmental considerations related to disposal and recycling.
Flexibility and Creativity: Drone light shows offer greater flexibility and creativity in terms of design and customization. The movements and formations of the drones can be precisely programmed, allowing for complex choreography and the creation of specific shapes or logos.
Fireworks, while visually impressive, have limited control once ignited and their patterns cannot be altered once launched.
Reusability and Reproducibility: Fireworks are typically single-use and cannot be reused for future displays. Each fireworks show requires the purchase and setup of new fireworks.
Drone light shows, on the other hand, utilize reusable drones and LED lights that can be used for multiple shows. The choreography and programming of a drone light show can be replicated and reproduced with consistency for subsequent performances.
Sound: Fireworks produce loud sounds, which can be an integral part of the experience but also a nuisance in residential areas as they set off dogs and other animals.
Drone light shows, in contrast, are generally silent or produce minimal noise, focusing primarily on the visual aspects of the show.
Both drone light shows and fireworks have their own unique appeal and can be chosen based on the desired visual effects, safety considerations, environmental impact, flexibility, and logistical factors. Some events may even choose to combine the two, integrating drones into a fireworks display for a synchronized and immersive experience.
Light Drones for Home Use
There are a couple of options for those that want a light drone for personal use.
Drone giant, DJI, has a light drone with a programmable LED display with swarm capabilities; the Robomaster TT. This drone is often used in schools and robotics courses to tech coding skills.
For more on this drone, checkout the Best Drones for Kids at Each Age.
Another option is the Tomzon LED drone. While this light drone doesn’t have swarm synchronisation capabilities, it has bright LED lights attached to each rotor which reflect off the white propellers.
More details on the Tomzon LED drone in Micro Drones.
The Wrap Up on Light Drones
These are just a few examples of drone manufacturers that design light drones. The market for drone light show technology is continually evolving, and new manufacturers and technologies may emerge in the future.
Overall, drone light shows have become increasingly popular due to their ability to create mesmerizing visual spectacles and unique experiences for audiences.
