1,218 drones set world record at Winter Olympic Games 2018
What's the story
The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2018 saw a record-setting performance of 1,218 drones, flying in sync to create huge formations of various Olympic sports and the iconic Olympic rings.
The drones set a world record for the 'most unmanned aerial vehicles airborne simultaneously,' which was previously held by 500 drones during a 2016 performance in Germany.
Details
These drones are made by Intel especially for light shows
Called the Shooting Star Mini, these drones are made by Intel especially for indoor light shows.
Even though the show put up at the opening ceremony was pre-recorded, a live appearance was also made by a smaller group of about 300 drones.
Intel will also be showcasing a live performance of 300 drones every night at the Olympic Games during the medal ceremonies.
Technique
Drones can be pre-programmed and managed from a central computer
These mini-drones can be managed from a central computer system all at once, and be coordinated on the fly in accordance with their individual battery lives and GPS signals.
Intel usually pre-programs a routine into the central computer system to control the entire swarm of drones simultaneously in the air, instead of interacting with each drone directly.
Information
Winter Olympic Games started from February 9 in South Korea
The Winter Olympic Games 2018, which is on till February 25 in PyeongChang County in South Korea, will witness participation from more than 90 countries, including India. It will feature 102 events across 15 sports, like skiing, skating, ice hockey, and snowboarding.