Intel Drone Light Show Steals the Show at Coachella

Intel’s shooting star drones have performed at Coachella for the second year in a row, lighting up the sky above the set of headlining act ODESZA.

It’s one of the few times that the technology giant has been able to perform live above an audience, rather than events being prerecorded, as was the case with the Super Bowl halftime show last year.

Other notable Intel shows have included the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, repeated world records for the most number of drones flown autonomously and a trip to the Las Vegas strip to light up the Fountains of Bellagio.

Read more: A Closer Look at Intel’s Indoor Light Shows

Beyond fireworks: Intel’s vision for drone light shows

In an editorial, Intel’s VP of New Technology and GM of UAS, Anil Nanduri, outlined the company’s vision for the future of fireworks. He anticipates the technology being used for both promotional and entertainment purposes.

“The sky is a blank canvas for creating new experiences with drone light shows, including Intel branding and awareness. Both Intel and our strategic partners have benefitted from the media attention and awards generated by our shows,” he wrote.

“We look forward to seeing these experiences in locations across the world from sporting events, theme parks, celebrations and more.”

Intel is in an ideal position to push the technology forward, with strong relationships with regulators and a history of embracing innovation responsibly. Nanduri believes that the company’s light shows will go on to replace fireworks for good.

“At Intel, we will continue to push the boundaries of drone technology, accelerating the adoption of commercial drone use and proliferating this new, innovative form of entertainment. We are committed to bringing drone innovations to market in a safe, responsible and scalable way. We are thankful for the regulatory agencies, ecosystem partners, customers and everyone involved that helped make this a reality,” he said.

“One day in the future, we will look back at history and see how drone light shows transformed the way we look at the night sky.”