Coordinated aerial drone-show entertainment platform hardware.
A themed aerial vehicle entertainment system or platform useful for generating crowd-pleasing shows or displays through the use of dynamically-coordinated show systems. Instead of use of a fixed flight plan, the new entertainment platform is configured to include one or more UAVs that is enclosed within or supports thematic cladding such as the outer shell of a spacecraft or flying character, and the show is dynamically coordinated to present a cohesive performance. Onboard show effects provided by onboard or UAV supported show system components such as high brightness lights are dynamically adjusted in the new system/platform to ensure the best show appearance to the audience while providing safer operations. The dynamic adjustments may involve selecting or generating a second script or “B show” in a contingent manner based on the current location or timing of movement of the UAV along a flight plan.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present description relates, in general, to aerial shows or displays, and, more particularly, the description relates to a new system or platform (and related operational method) adapted for providing a dynamically-coordinated show (e.g., coordinated between airborne and ground devices) to entertain guests of a facility such as a theme park, an outdoor sporting stadium, a cruise ship, and so on. The system/platform often will build upon use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones (with these terms used interchangeably herein). 2. Relevant Background (2) There is a strong demand for new ways to provide shows or displays in the sky. These shows and displays may be provided, for example, to crowds of people visiting a theme or amusement park. In other cases, an airborne display or show is provided to sports fans before or after a sporting event or even at halftime or another break. (3) Many of these sky-based or airborne shows or displays have relied wholly on show systems positioned on the ground. For example, a fireworks or other pyrotechnic show may involve launching show components (e.g., exploding rockets and the like) in a choreographed manner with, in some cases, synchronization with a soundtrack (e.g., operation of a ground-based sound system). As another example, a show or display may involve a light and/or laser show that illuminates the overhead sky and/or screens and/or other objects on the ground or in the sky abov
1. A system adapted for providing a themed aerial vehicle entertainment platform with dynamic aerial show coordination, comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a chassis, flight propulsion mechanisms operable to move the chassis in three dimensions, and a flight controller, wherein the flight controller generates or receives flight control signals indicating a position of the UAV in an air space and wherein the flight controller controls the flight propulsion mechanisms to move the UAV chassis to locations in the space indicated by the flight control signals; a show interface on the chassis; thematic cladding supported by the chassis wherein the thematic cladding extends around and encloses at least a lower portion of the chassis of the UAV; an onboard show system including show effect devices moved in the space by the UAV; and an onboard show controller in or supported by the UAV and coupled to the show interface, wherein the onboard show controller includes a show control module and memory storing a show plan, wherein the show control module generates show control signals based on the show plan and based on at least one of timing and location signals for the UAV in the space provided to the onboard show controller via the show interface, wherein the show effect devices are actuated to generate show effects in response to receipt of the show control signals, wherein the show plan comprises a plurality of scripts defining timing and locations of operations of the show effect devices, and wherein the onboard show controller selects a first one of the scripts to generate the show control signals based on a first comparison of the timing and location signals of the UAV with a flight plan and show effect locations and timing defined in the show plan and then selects a second one of the scripts to generate the show control signals based on a second comparison showing the UAV deviating from either the locations or the timing defined in the show plan, whereby the onboard show controller provides real time show contingencies based on real time performance of the UAV in the space. ||
7. A system adapted for providing a themed aerial vehicle entertainment platform with dynamic aerial show coordination, comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a chassis, flight propulsion mechanisms operable to move the chassis, and a flight controller controlling the flight propulsion mechanisms to move the UAV to locations in the space; thematic cladding coupled to and enclosing lower portions of the chassis; an onboard show system including show effect devices in the thematic cladding; and an onboard show controller supported by the UAV, wherein the onboard show controller includes a show control module and memory storing a show plan defining a flight plan defining the locations for the UAV during performance of a show and scripts defining timing and locations of operations of the show effect devices, wherein the show control module generates a first set of show control signals based on the show plan when a location of the UAV in the space matches the timing and locations defined in a first one of the scripts and generates a second set of show control signals based on a second one of the scripts when the location of the UAV in the space deviates a predefined amount from the timing and locations defined in the first one of the scripts, and wherein the show effect devices are actuated to generate show effects in response to receipt of the show control signals. ||
14. A system adapted for providing a themed aerial vehicle entertainment platform with dynamic aerial show coordination, comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a chassis, flight propulsion mechanisms, and a flight controller controlling the flight propulsion mechanisms to move the UAV in an airspace; thematic cladding supported by the chassis and disguising presence of the UAV; an onboard show system including show effect devices in or on the thematic cladding; and an onboard show controller supported by the UAV, wherein the onboard show controller includes a show control module and memory storing first and second scripts defining timing and locations for operating the show effect devices as the UAV moves through the airspace, wherein the show control module generates show control signals, based on monitoring of movement of the UAV through the airspace compared to the defined timing and locations, to actuate the show effect devices to generate show effects in response to receipt of the show control signals, and wherein the show control module selects and follows the first script or the second script based on results of the monitoring, whereby dynamic show control is provided by the show control module.