UAV training<\/a> you have, you are not going to fly a few let alone hundreds of drones simultaneously.<\/p>\nTo create dazzling light shows like Intel\u2019s, it takes a lot of planning, coordination and programming skills.<\/p>\n
Because no one can fly all the drones at one and neither will they get 500 drone pilots each with a controller, they have to create a central control system.<\/p>\n
That system is a master computer that controls the drones and monitors each one of them throughout the show.<\/p>\n
“We have this master computer that is the pilot. And that manages the whole fleet as we call it,” says Anil Nanduri, a Vice President at Intel.<\/p>\n
But the real magic comes from humans sitting at a computer. Before even a single drone can leave the ground, they have to program each one of them to behave precisely in a certain way.<\/p>\n
This includes programming their speed, direction, LED light color, height above ground and interaction with other drones.<\/p>\n
They simulate the show on a computer before turning it into a perfect synchronized choreography involving hundreds of drones in the sky.<\/p>\n
This may sound fairly straightforward by there are a myriad challenges technicians have to overcome to put on a successful show.<\/p>\n
At the 2018 winter Olympics for instance, they had to account for the freezing cold and winds.<\/p>\n
They also have to create fall back plans in case something goes wrong such as a drone losing power or connection.<\/p>\n
Once experts turn all this into code, a master computer can then control the light show with relative ease.<\/p>\n
For local light shows performed live, companies have to get special permission from the FAA to fly the drones over people and have a single drone pilot controlling multiple drones.<\/p>\n