Programmable Drones?

[Chriscas97]

Hello – My school is interested in putting on a 5 minute performance (play) that would include programmable drones. We have a decent sized budget to spend on drones, but need to be able to program the drones for our performance.

We are hoping to be able to get the drone(s) to perform something like: At 0:00 the drones fly up and hover at 10 feet. At 0:30 fly left 15 feet. At 1:00 fly forward 8 feet. At 1:30 fly right 10 feet followed by flying back left 25 feet……… etc. At the end we would need the drones to return to where they began. To give further detail, we are looking for the drones to perform at choreographed movements during this 5 minute time span. Furthermore, we are exploring the idea that the drone(s) will have something attached, weighing less than 5 pounds…. Possibly a cut out of a fish to make it appear to be swimming (if possible). we are looking to see if any members of this forum have suggestions for programmable drones. We have a small IT staff that has minimal skills, so preferably a drone that can be customized easily. We have plenty of time if someone needs to dedicate hours to learning how to program.

Is there a drone(s) that operated independently that fit this description? Any recommendations on products, ideas, or possible alternatives. Ideally our group could program the drones to fly at different heights and different lengths. Any help is appreciated.

Sorry if this thread is listed in the wrong locations, still figuring some things out.


Thank you,
Chris.

 

[go-ahead-doubledown]

Will the play be performed indoors or outdoors?

 

[Kilrah]

Indoor or outdoor? Whole different game.

 

[Chriscas97]

Indoor or outdoor? Whole different game.

Sorry, I should have included that information. The performance will be indoors and would be quite spacious. We have an area 60 wide, 120 long, by 25 feet high. Thank you!

 

[Kilrah]

OK. Outdoor is easy, but there is no DIY system out there to provide reliable navigation indoors at this point.

There are companies specialized in this doing such shows, but they use complex beacon setups, and the whole thing comes out rather expensive: Verity Studios

 

[FunN4Lo]

Look up DroneBlocks on Facebook or your app store. They have a app that I think would be right up your alley. The Devs often work with schools on projects as you describe

 

[AMann]

These are programmable- designed for schools:
Airblock | Makeblock - Global STEAM Education Solution Provider

 

[j.coffield]

You can use drone blocks with the Tello drone. It works well indoors without the need for a gps signal. I haven't used drone blocks myself but I do know the tello can programmed with it.

 

[Mossiback]

It definitely can (but probably should not) be done but it may be a budget buster.

Also:
• Keep in mind the noise per drone times number of drones equals a lot of noise.
• I would be surprised if your school administration would allow it because of liability.
• The fact that this will be a school play held indoors implies you will be flying close to an audience or performers. You definitely should not fly close to people. It only takes one out of control drone to injure someone.
• Forget about hanging something from a drone unless you factor in the effects of prop wash.

It seems like a lot of effort and potential for disaster for a five minute show.

 

[Kilrah]

I haven't used drone blocks myself but I do know the tello can programmed with it.

I've tried it, it works but since there is no absolute positioning and it only estimates moves by looking at the ground it's pretty imprecise and drifts quite a bit. If you did a 5min show with multiple tellos with DB they'd just end up all over the place pretty quickly.

 

[Sky1]

you mean like what they did at the olympics?

 

[AMann]

These were basic quads using IR light beacons to navigate and a desktop to coordinate them:

 

[Mossiback]

These were basic quads using IR light beacons to navigate and a desktop to coordinate them:

That was so cool!

 

[Splashy]

Look at the Tello. You can easily control multiple Tellos from a single computer.
The Tello is designed to be used in education and is ideal for your purposes.

I am a programmer and would help you if you like. I have been considering being a Tello Edu evangelist.

 

[NAVMAV]

Oboy... the mere mention of 'Audience', plus a maximum ceiling height of 25 feet, has our hair standing straight up!

Imagine what happens if one of the Fliers goes AWOL, and drops in the Audience??? You all know that can happen.

We'd also forget having them trailing anything underneath.

It's a terrific Idea, but the very first thing we'd do is seek Legal Advice on Liability. That may put Quits to the Plan in a hurry.

Sorry to raise a negative on a great idea.

Rgs, NAVMAV

 

[AMann]

Oboy... the mere mention of 'Audience', plus a maximum ceiling height of 25 feet, has our hair standing straight up!

Imagine what happens if one of the Fliers goes AWOL, and drops in the Audience??? You all know that can happen.

We'd also forget having them trailing anything underneath.

It's a terrific Idea, but the very first thing we'd do is seek Legal Advice on Liability. That may put Quits to the Plan in a hurry.

Sorry to raise a negative on a great idea.

Rgs, NAVMAV

They can put a poly bird net across the stage like the giant cheap ones you put over fruit trees- pretty see through and would make it safe.

 

[fozzzy]

We use DroneBlocks and Scratch for coding with Tello's in school at least twice a week now, works flawlessly indoors, we did find we had to put mats on the floor for the vision sensors to pick up on, they aren't happy with single colours or shiny wood.