www.CapTechU.edu
Photos courtesy of Firefly Drone Shows. Used by permission.
Fireworks are a Fourth of July tradition – and a
fun part of many other occasions as well. But in areas hit by drought
or dry conditions, they can pose a serious hazard.
The good news: watching a swarm of drones can also be an exciting way to cap Independence Day celebrations.
With many municipalities in Western states
having to cancel fireworks displays due to the risk, some have opted to
hold drone shows instead. During this year’s Independence Day
celebrations in Carefree, Arizona, spectators thrilled to the sight of drones illuminating the night sky,
with flight patterns that created patriotic symbols. The drones were
operated by Firefly Drone Shows, a Detroit-based company. (Click here to see a video clip of the show).
“With the absence of the traditional fireworks show in Cave Creek, [we] wanted to provide
residents a safe and entertaining alternative to fireworks as part of the July 4th tradition,” a spokesperson for the Civana Carefree resort, which organized the event, told the local ABC affiliate.
residents a safe and entertaining alternative to fireworks as part of the July 4th tradition,” a spokesperson for the Civana Carefree resort, which organized the event, told the local ABC affiliate.
Similar shows were planned for Aspen, Colorado and the Travis Air Force Base
in Fairfield, California, although both events have been delayed due to
high winds. The show at Travis is expected to take place at 9 pm on Thursday.
For consecutive years now, dozens of cities in
Western states have had to ditch pyrotechnics due to hot, dry weather.
If the climate trend continues, drone shows could become a long-term,
high-tech replacement, says Dr. Richard Baker, who is on the faculty of a
newly-launched unmanned systems program at Capitol Technology University.
“Communities are becoming increasingly aware of
the ability to use swarms of drones to emulate a fireworks display,”
Baker said. “Lights, music, and unmanned aerial vehicles can provide an
exciting and visually appealing experience that is just as grand as
fireworks, though without the mind-numbing booms.”
Fireworks can be costly, he noted. Each year in
the United States, more than 14,000 fireworks shows spend over $340
million and use more than 25 million pounds of pyrotechnic chemicals,
according to the American Pyrotechnics Association.
Beyond the United States, meanwhile, recent
high-profile events have explored drone shows as a high-tech way to add
wonder and awe to celebratory occasions.
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang kicked
off with a pre-recorded drone display produced by the Intel Corporation;
a few months later, a live show at the ancient Chinese city of Xi’an drew more than 100,000 spectators.
The coming years could see drone shows becoming a new tradition in the very country where fireworks were first invented.
China – where fireworks originated during the 9th
century as a method of scaring off malevolent spirits – has moved to
ban them in hundreds of cities, in an effort to combat pollution, Fortune reported.
According to Baker, we can expect to see drone
shows take off in a big way over the coming years, bringing economic
opportunity and career benefits for a wide range of specialists,
including operators, engineers, entrepreneurs, security professionals,
and policy experts.
“Cities worldwide are exploring the
possibilities of replacing the explosive displays with safer drone
exhibitions for cheaper and cleaner celebrations. The growing demand
for public displays using swarms of drones will provide an entirely new
industry with outstanding job opportunities in unmanned autonomous
systems,” he said.
Interested in learning more about drones and
other unmanned autonomous systems (UAVs) and preparing yourself for a
career in this rapidly emerging technological field? Capitol Technology
University offers Unmanned Systems degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level. Contact admissions@captechu.edu to find out more!
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