In ancient China, pyrotechnicians were revered for their knowledge of creating firework displays that played a key role in many celebrations. The earliest forms of these fireworks date back to the Han Dynasty when pyrotechnicians would throw bamboo into fire pits, causing a controlled explosion. By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), pyrotechnicians developed a method of stringing together clusters of rolled paper tubes filled with gunpowder called bianpao, which translates to “whip cannon”. Bianpao became the precursor to modern-day fireworks. Firework displays have progressed greatly since then, becoming one of the most common forms of after-dark aerial entertainment.

However, recent trends have shown that celebration planners have begun to shy away from fireworks shows. They can be triggering for people with post-traumatic stress disorder and cause significant noise and air pollution. Perhaps the most dangerous risk of fireworks shows is their potential to ignite wildfires. In 2012, more than 1,000 years after bianpao came into existence, the world was introduced to a new form of aerial entertainment: drones. The Ars Electronica Futurelab presented SPAXELS (Space Elements), drones with LED lights flying in formation to create images. Along with the rest of the drone industry, drone light shows have grown exponentially over the last decade.

Today, drone light shows are the gold standard in aerial entertainment. The field has become highly competitive, with companies around the world striving to outperform each other and set new world records. While the Chinese did not invent drone light shows, unlike how they invented fireworks, they are currently leading the pack when it comes to record-breaking drone entertainment. This comes as no surprise, considering how China is also setting the bar for the development of the commercial drone industry.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of China’s National Day, the country set a new Guinness World Record with a mesmerizing drone show titled “Sky City.” As stated by Guinness World Records, ” The most multirotors/drones airborne simultaneously from a single computer (outdoors) is 10,197 and was achieved by Shenzhen DAMODA Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Media Group, sponsored by Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality (all China), in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, on 26 September 2024.” This record broke the one DAMODA had set only a week prior with a 7,578-drone light show.

DAMODA has been entertaining audiences with drone light shows in China and around the world since 2001. They have completed more than 10,000 performances and hold 80 research and development patents. For outdoor shows, like the National Day celebration, they use the Outdoor V3 Formation UAV. As described on their website, the V3 is a “revolutionary product that truly subverts tradition and ushers in a new era of outdoor formation UAVs, realizing ‘automatic control, automatic return and intelligent storage,’ and opening the era of UAV formation cluster intelligence.” To honor China’s rich history of lantern festivals, DAMODA designed a drone that can support a lantern as well. The company has also become known for its indoor drone shows with the V2 Formation UAV, which weighs less than 5 ounces.

For National Day, the V3 drones dazzled audiences with formations depicting traditional and modern Chinese symbols. An intricate tiger that floated in the sky for nearly a full minute was definitely a highlight of the show. Other images included iconic landmarks, animations of martial arts, and a message encircled by swirling lights that read, “City of Miracle, City of Future, City of Innovation” in Chinese and English. What makes this drone show even more special is that it is not just a one-time occurrence. As National Day is celebrated over the course of a week, the drone show will travel to other cities throughout China to ensure that as many of the nation’s 1 billion-plus population as possible have the opportunity to view the show. Additionally, while some elements of the drone animations will remain, each show will feature unique elements.

While fireworks once dominated celebrations, the rise of drone light shows signifies a new era in visual storytelling. With their intricate designs and ability to captivate audiences without the environmental impact of traditional fireworks, drone shows offer a glimpse into the future of celebration. New Guinness World Records surrounding drone technology are continually being broken, especially in the field of drone light shows. DAMODA achieved a remarkable feat with the setting of their most recent record. It will be exciting to see how and when that record will be broken again.

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