Choral Drone: Theatrical applications of UAVs

Drone light shows use precise choreography, high-powered LEDs and various projectors to create moving images in the sky. Cirque du Soleil has disguised UAVs as props and set pieces to create a sense of magic onstage. Additionally, researchers have used performance techniques, such as Laban Movement Analysis, to study human-UAV communication. Traditional performance spaces have a grid in the ceiling with lights and projectors hanging from it to illuminate the stage. However, hanging and focusing these instruments is time-consuming, and said instruments’ fixed position can often be limiting. Can we replace a standard lighting grid with lighting and projection-enabled drones? We will attempt to answer our question by creating the Choral Drone, a lighting and projection-equipped drone swarm deployed during a short play’s creation and rehearsal process. Our research will examine the strengths and weaknesses of drone choreography, live swarm response and projection mapping in live performance scenarios.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patrick Finn;Ehud Sharlin

Student:

Partner:

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Calgary

Program: