Venerable circus company Cirque du Soleil and leading Swiss technological institute ETH Zurich have combined their expertise in the arts and sciences respectively to come up with a performance video -- dubbed 'Spark' -- that involves a human performing with a fleet of quadcopter drones dressed as lampshades.
Sparked explores the story of an electrical appliance repairman whose lamps become animated after a power surge. As the lampshades hover around him, they appear to be responding to his movements. Each of the ten lampshades was assigned unique 'personalities' that were reflected in the way they moved.
The video was shot over the course of three days in ETH Zurich's Flying Machine Arena, a space equipped with a motion capture system, wireless communication network and sophisticated algorithm-executing software.
The video contains no CGI or other video manipulation, and could herald the start of a new era in which drones and increasingly incorporated into live entertainment.
Drone Circus Performers
This Cirque Du Soleil Video Features a Fleet of Flying Lampshades
Trend Themes
1. Drone Performances - A trend of incorporating drones in live entertainment shows, opening up new opportunities for creative performances and immersive experiences.
2. Motion Capture Technology - A trend of using motion capture technology to enhance live performances through the synchronization of drones' movements with performers' actions.
3. Interactive Lampshades - A trend of creating interactive and personalized experiences for viewers through drones' unique 'personalities', as seen in Cirque du Soleil and ETH Zurich's video 'Spark'.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - The entertainment industry can incorporate drones in shows to create immersive and dynamic performances, enhancing the viewing experience for audiences and setting new trends.
2. Technology - The technology industry can continue to develop advanced motion capture and control systems for drones to enable interactive, synchronized and safe performances in entertainment, as well as other fields such as rescue operations or inspections.
3. Lighting Design - The lighting design industry can explore the possibilities of incorporating drones as interactive and dynamic light sources in live performances, pushing the boundaries of traditional stage lighting and providing new design possibilities.