Zurich based company Verity Studios has been creating swam bots that create an unforgettable live experience. These tiny bots create an impressive light show. (Photo from Verity Studios)
This past summer, rap superstar Drake brought some unexpected, tiny guests with him on tour. During his songs “Elevate” and “Look Alive” a swarm of miniature autonomous drones joined Drake on stage, dancing overhead while lighting up the area. While it sounds like a unique stage show, it’s something becoming more common in big shows. Metallica employed similar drones on their own tour, and a recent Cirque Du Soleil performance featured complex drones equipped with a lampshade to create a ghostly effect. It’s clear that drones are quickly becoming a staple in live entertainment.
The leading company for entertainment drones is the Zurich based Verity Studios, who specializes in indoor drones. They’re the ones who created the tech for Drake’s recent tour. These swarm bots are tiny quadcopters with 3D printed hulls that talk to one another using an indoor GPS system. Before the show, the company will install satellites throughout the area creating a network to connect the drones. When the drones are on the network, it can determine where it is in the space along with seeing where the other drones are. The choreography is planned beforehand, and when it’s show time, all it takes is a push of a button from the drone operator.
What about safety? There are countless videos online showing drones failing. And during their last world tour, Muse even had a drone fall into the audience. Verity Studios knows the risks and have created the drones to land in place if a bot fails. If there’s a problem with the satellite, the rest of the network still works.
“We developed drone failsafe technologies to ensure the safety and reliability of our drones in public performances. And this approach did not stop at the technology but extended to all aspects of the system – from our internal procedures and processes to the training of the show’s automation operator and the theater stagehands who operated the drones, day in and day out,” says Verity Studios cofounder Raffaello D’Andrea in an interview with Robotics Business Review.
The company is just working on improving their own drones’ safety features, they’re hoping to incorporate the technology into drone manufacturers’ platforms. “As more drones continue to populate the sky for photography, commercial uses, and industrial applications, safety is a key consideration,” says D’Andrea. “It will only grow in importance in the years to come, and we are working with leading drone manufacturers to bring this technology to the broader markets.”
The studio is quickly gaining traction and are being called to help with bigger events, but they want to make the experience even better. They plan to add more drones to the swarm for more complex routines. They also hope to bring their drones to outdoor venues. With artists wanting their shows to be bigger and better in the age of social media, these entertaining swarm bots may become the new standard.
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