Drone Show

Onlookers gasp as a swarm of tiny, brightly lit robots lift into the night sky. As patriotic music plays, bulbs on the drones flicker and change color. At the same time, the drones shift into the shape of an American flag rippling in the air. The robots move again to form an eagle and then once more to re-create the Statue of Liberty, which rotates around in a complete circle. Finally, the drones spell out “Happy 4th of July!” The crowd below cheers and applauds.

Traditionally, Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks displays. But drones are starting to steal the show! Christopher Franzwa is an electrical engineer who co-founded Verge Aero, a company in Texas that produces drone show technology. “For hundreds of years, fireworks have been providing a spectacle that nothing could match,” says Franzwa. But now, drones “allow us to paint the night sky with things people haven’t seen before.” The drones can be programmed to create almost any design you imagine: cartoon characters, company logos, hearts for Valentine’s Day, or messages like “Happy Birthday!”

A group of tiny robots rises into the night sky. Music fills the air. Bright lights on the robots change color. They shift into the shape of an American flag in the air. The drones move again to form an eagle, and then a rotating Statue of Liberty. Finally, the drones spell out "Happy 4th of July!" The crowd below goes wild.

Many towns and cities usually celebrate Independence Day with fireworks. But drones are starting to steal the show! Christopher Franzwa is an electrical engineer. He’s one of the founders of Verge Aero, a company in Texas. They make and program drones for light shows. "For hundreds of years, fireworks have been providing a spectacle that nothing could match," says Franzwa. But drones are changing that, he says. They "allow us to paint the night sky with things people haven't seen before."

Drones can be programmed to create almost any design. And they’re not just for Independence Day! Drones can display cartoon characters and company logos. They can make hearts for Valentine's Day, or messages like "Happy Birthday!"

Every drone performance starts on a computer. Designers use a program that converts a picture to pixels—small illuminated dots that make up an image. Each pixel represents a drone and its point on a coordinate plane, or grid. The computer determines the number of drones needed to create the image, as well as their spacing. Each drone is spaced evenly apart on the grid at the beginning. Then computer software moves the points to different positions on the coordinate plane to create each image. A dozen to thousands of drones could be used for each performance.

Once the entire show is planned out, a flight control program automatically pilots the drones into place using GPS technology, which can accurately determine the positions of objects on Earth. Franzwa says that the GPS technology positions each drone accurately within 1 inch! The program also makes sure the image will look correct to the audience on the ground. To control each drone, computers on the ground send flight directions to antennas in each of the flying robot’s four arms.

Every drone performance starts on a computer. Designers use a program that turns a picture into pixels. These small dots combine to form an image. Each pixel in the image represents one drone. The computer figures out how many drones it will take to make a picture. It places that number of points on a coordinate plane, or grid.

But before any drones take off, they’re arranged on the ground on a rectangular grid, called a launchpad. Each drone is placed at a certain point on the grid equally spaced apart from one another. This prevents the drones from flying off course or bumping into other drones. To get airborne, each drone has four propellers powered by a rechargeable battery that provides enough energy for a 21-minute performance. The propellers produce a maximum vertical speed of 13 miles per hour and horizontal speed of 22 mph, so a drone can quickly change position. The battery also powers the LED bulb, which can make 4 billion different colors! That’s way more shades than can be made using traditional fireworks.

The drones are spaced evenly over the grid at first. Then the software moves them to different positions. They move and change colors to create each image. A show can use anywhere from a dozen to thousands of drones.

During the performance, another computer program tells the drones how to fly. It sends instructions to antennas built into each flying robot. It relies on GPS technology to steer the drones. This system uses satellites to track the locations of objects on Earth. The GPS is very accurate, says Franzwa. It moves each drone to within 1 inch of its assigned spot!

Not everything about the show is automatic. Workers must arrange the drones carefully before they can take off. They place the robots on a rectangular grid called a launchpad. Each one goes on a certain point on the grid. The points are equally spaced apart. This keeps the drones from bumping into each other during takeoff.

The drones are powered by rechargeable batteries. These provide enough energy for a 21-minute performance. Four propellers allow the robots to move up to 22 miles per hour. The battery also powers an LED light bulb. It can make 4 billion different colors! That's many times more than traditional fireworks.

Drone displays aren’t just dazzling to watch. They have some advantages over fireworks, says Franzwa. Fireworks spark about 20,000 fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. That’s particularly problematic in the Western United States, which often experiences drought—a prolonged lack of rainfall. Droughts have led to dry conditions that can increase wildfire risk.

Scientists say that climate change is partly responsible for creating these dry conditions. Warmer weather in the Western U.S. is leading to less moisture in the air and, in turn, longer periods without rainfall. When this happens, dry brush on the ground can build up and act as fuel for a wildfire. That’s why some towns in the region have already begun replacing fireworks with drone shows.

Smoke from fireworks can also contaminate the air and waterways with pollutants. But battery-powered drones don’t give off pollution. Traditional fireworks produce another type of pollution: noise pollution. The loud explosions from these shows confuse and scare wildlife and pets. “Drones are quiet,” says Franzwa. That means everyone can enjoy drone shows—even your pets!  

Drone displays are fun to watch. They also have benefits over fireworks, says Franzwa. Fireworks spark about 20,000 fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. That's extra dangerous in the Western United States. This region often experiences long periods without rainfall. The dry conditions can increase the risk of wildfires.

Scientists say that climate change is making things worse. Warmer weather in the Western U.S. means less moisture in the air. That leads to longer periods without rain. When this happens, dry plant material builds up on the ground. This can act as fuel for a wildfire. All it takes is a spark to start it. That's why some towns in the region have replaced fireworks with drone shows.

Smoke from fireworks can also pollute the air and water. Battery-powered drones do not. And traditional fireworks are extremely loud. The explosions can confuse and scare animals who don’t know what’s going on. "Drones are quiet," says Franzwa. That means everyone can enjoy the show—even your pets!