How will more than 10,000 drones light up the sky of Ho Chi Minh City?

An image created by a drone at an event in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh .

Tonight (April 28), the rehearsal program of 10,500 drones to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification took place on the banks of the Saigon River. The official performance will take place on the evening of May 1.

Drone light shows are one of the new trends in performing arts. Instead of traditional fireworks, drone shows are used in many occasions such as celebrations, sporting events, etc.

Not just a simple entertainment show, drone shows have gradually developed with a larger and more complex scale. Currently, almost any image can be displayed in the air with a control system of hundreds, thousands of drones at the same time.

The rehearsal program to display 10,500 drones will take place on the evening of April 28. Illustration photo: Linh Huynh.

How drone shows work

Similar to marching bands where each member needs to move precisely to the rhythm and formation, each drone is programmed to fly to the correct coordinates in the air at a predetermined time.

Before the performance, the choreography team uses 3D graphics software to simulate the scene for each act. The software allows the formation and design of routes for each drone. The coordinates are stored in the software, which can simulate wind and many other factors to ensure the performance goes smoothly.

When preparing for a demonstration, the organizers will arrange drones (or stacks of drones) in a grid, each numbered and assigned a specific position in the software.

Staff arrange drones before a show. Photo: Pixis Drones .

During the show, each drone is programmed with its own set of instructions, including flight path, altitude, speed, and timing to synchronize with the other drones. All play an important role in creating a beautiful, precise formation.

Depending on the number of drones used, the images in the display can be as simple as circles or squares to complex designs such as logos, symbols or special illustrations. Each drone is equipped with LED lights that can change color and adjust brightness, creating a visual effect.

What drone to use for demonstration?

Organizers can use several types of drones for the show. Basically, drones are small, light and equipped with LED lights.

The most commonly used drone is the quadcopter with 4 propellers. Drones need to be able to fly in sync with other drones. They also have the ability to create many colors that change over time, music...

For example, the Firefly Gen2 model is equipped with RGB LEDs, a maximum battery life of 25 minutes, and integrates 3 inertial measurement systems (IMUs) to ensure stable flight.

Next, Lumenier ARORA also has a 25-minute battery life, equipped with white LEDs combined with RGB LEDs for a wider color range. Meanwhile, Uvify IFO has a width of 27.5 cm, a horizontal flight speed of 10 m/s, and integrates 3 24-bit RGB LEDs to create millions of colors.

Drone control software show. Photo: SPH Engineering .

The prices of the different types of drones used for demonstrations also vary. For example, the Uvify IFO costs $1,300 per drone, including the ground control system, software, and support services. That means that for a program that uses around 500 drones, the cost could be around $850,000 .

According to The Drone Girl , users can “build their own” demonstration drones, including assembly and programming. The cost of homemade systems can be as little as half that of pre-assembled systems.

Safety measures

Drone shows require safety. In the US, to hold a nighttime show above 400 feet, a company must obtain a special permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Technicians also create a “geofence” with a monitoring and security team. If the drone flies beyond the fence, the system will send a signal to return or make an emergency landing to avoid risks.

Key areas for drone shows. Photo: Pixis Drones .

The limiting factors for the size of a drone show are the number of drones and battery life. Each flight typically lasts 10-15 minutes, but organizers can deploy multiple drones to take off/land in succession to extend the show.

The record for drone demonstrations continues to grow. As of October 2024, 10,200 drones performed in China to set Guinness World Records for the largest number of drones in the sky controlled by a single computer, and the largest aerial image created by a drone.

With 10,500 drones expected tonight and the evening of May 1, the performance in Ho Chi Minh City could set a new record.

While many drone shows still incorporate fireworks, drone shows are considered friendlier to people with PTSD, sensitive people, and pets, which are susceptible to loud noises.

Source: https://znews.vn/drone-show-hoat-dong-nhu-the-nao-post1548936.html