United States - Flag United States

Please confirm your currency selection:

Bench Talk for Design Engineers

Bench Talk

rss

Bench Talk for Design Engineers | The Official Blog of Mouser Electronics


Intel’s Drone Dancers Wow Millions During Halftime Show
On 2월 6, 2017 in All by Colin Carter
Colin Carter

Image: NFL

We all know that drones — also known as quadcopters or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — have seen explosive popularity in the past five years or so. But I’m willing to bet that last night’s Super Bowl halftime performance by Lady Gaga boosted that popularity even further.

The performance, guest starring Intel’s Shooting Star drones, lit up Houston’s skyline as well as TVs around the world. The Intel Shooting Star drones outfitted with LEDs bookended Lady Gaga’s onstage performance, opening with a pulsating starfield that morphed into the American flag and then ending with a floating Pepsi logo and Intel logo in an advertisement immediately following the halftime show. Aside from the intersection of patriotism and commercialism, the impressive drone display introduced millions of viewers to drones as entertainment.

Image: Intel

Unlike consumer drones from Intel, the Shooting Star drones lack collision-avoidance sensors. As a result, the 300-drone fleet at the halftime performance were controlled by a single pilot and backup co-pilot, while the beautifully orchestrated LED portion was pre-programmed. But as Brian Barrett at Wired points out, the technology Intel uses in the Shooting Star drones could be used for practical and life-saving applications (something Mouser addresses in its Project First Responders series).

Whatever the applications, last night’s performance surely sparked even more interest in drones and their applications, from record-setting preprogrammed light shows to backyard hovering just for fun.

Catch the full half-time show here.



« Back


Colin is Technical Content Manager at Mouser Electronics. In his off time, he enjoys bicycles, travel, and music. He received a Master of Arts in Technical Communication from the University of North Texas and a Certificate of Completion of Pre-Kindergarten from Morgan Day Care.


Related Posts

  • Drones of a Feather Flock Together

    One of the hottest gifts this past holiday season were consumer DRONES. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projected one million of these devices were under Christmas trees this past December. The word Drone is one of the oldest official designations for “remotely controlled aircraft” in the American military lexicon dating back to 1935. “Drone” was adopted to refer to these aircraft as in homage to the queen in a bee hive, and became the official US Navy designation for targets for many decades.

  • New Tech Tuesdays: Precision Agriculture Takes Flight: Enhancing Farming Efficiency with Drone Technology

    The global demand for sustainable and efficient farming methods is driving the adoption of drone technology. Drones offer benefits in seed plantation, crop monitoring, and precision agriculture. Learn how the IMU Sensor Evaluation Board for the WSEN-ISDS 6-Axis Sensor enhances agricultural drone designs.

  • Droning On: Four Ways Drones are Being Used Today

    You’ve spotted them flying at the park, you’ve seen the amazing aerial videos they can take. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are no longer just a military phenomenon but have entered the civilian fray. But while you’ll often see drones being flown just for fun, these days they’re being put to work in useful and increasingly surprising ways.

  • New Tech Tuesdays: Drones: From Recreational Toy to Essential Tool

    Drones have progressed from their recreational origins to become indispensable tools in a wide range of businesses and applications. Farmers, emergency managers, and urban planners may all readily obtain off-the-shelf drones for immediate use, making aerial imagery more accessible than ever before.

  • It's a Bird... It’s a Plane... It’s a Drone

    Drones are becoming big players in the toy sector, especially as toys are no longer just for young children. LEGO bricks have long been a favorite toy of the young and old, and a company called Brickdrones is now offering kits with the parts necessary to build your very own operational drone from LEGOs.

  • Don’t Forget to Register that Drone

    If you plan to use a drone for anything related to work or commercial ventures, you need to do more than register.
14092 Views
Tagged With: Drones, Intel, Shooting Star, Super Bowl

Search

Categories

Featured Authors

All Authors

Show More Show More
View Blogs by Date

Archives