Drone

A drone display is the use of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), often quadcopters, flying in a coordinated fashion for public display. The are usually equipped with LEDs, and the display held at night. The displays may be for entertainment, where the drones may use flocking or swarming behaviour.^[1] The drones may also be coordinated to produce images. Using this emerging technology, displays have been employed for advertising purposes as well.

Intel has produced the Shooting Star, a type of drone used in light shows.^[2] They were used during the 2018 Winter Olympics, a Super Bowl halftime show in 2017, and a 2018 4th of July celebration.^[3]

Drone light shows differ from fireworks displays in that drones are reusable, and do not produce air and noise pollution.^[3] However, drone displays cannot take place during rain or strong winds.^[4]

Legislation

In February 2014, the prime minister and cabinet affairs minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that the UAE planned to launch a fleet of UAVs for civilian purposes.^[1] Plans were for the UAVs to use fingerprint and eye-recognition systems to deliver official documents such as passports, ID cards and licenses, and supply emergency services at accidents. A battery-powered prototype four-rotor UAV about half a meter across was displayed in Dubai.^[2]

In the United States, initial attempts at commercial use of UAVs were blocked by FAA regulation. In June 2014, the FAA published a document that listed activities not permitted under its regulations, including commercial use, which the organization stated included "delivering packages to people for a fee" or offered as part of a "purchase or another offer."^[3] In August 2016, updated FAA rules were enacted. The new rules included guidelines for commercial use of small UAVs stating they must weigh less than 55 lb (25 kg), fly up to a maximum of 400 feet (120 m), at a speed of no greater than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), could only be operated during daytime, and that drone operators must also qualify for flying certificates and be at least 16-years old.^[4] In June 2017, the United States Senate proposed legislation to allow package deliveries by drones.^[5] In October 2017, a presidential directive was issued that called on the FAA and Transportation Department to work with local officials to create initiatives that would enable American companies to eventually use drones for delivery purposes.^[6]