[Music] This is something that can't be achieved with fireworks alone. It's made using pyro drones. Hundreds of tiny explosiveladen quadcopters piloted to an exact formation in space, firing pyro technics in perfect choreography.But while these shows may look simple, getting to this point has taken extensive engineering, complex flight plans, and a fair amount of trial and error. To see exactly how a pyro drone show comes together, aerial display company Sky Elements invited the Wall Street Journal to a tes ...

Technology and Innovation - Pyro drones utilize hundreds of explosiveladen quadcopters for choreographed aerial displays [1] - Each drone is a customized $1,500 quadcopter equipped with pyro technics and a firing module [4] - Designers use 3D animation software to choreograph flights, maintaining a minimum distance of 6 1/2 ft between drones for safety [6] - RTK GPS system combines satellite data with a local base station for centimeter-accurate positioning [15] Safety and Risk Management - Attaching explosives to drones introduces additional risk factors [2] - Geo fences are designed to instantly shut down malfunctioning drones [12] - Industry is developing unified safety standards due to incidents involving drone collisions [16][17][18] - Redundancy in navigation, GPS, and power systems is crucial for drone safety [20] Operational Challenges - Integrating pyro technics affects show design, considering weight, thrust, and firing direction [9][10] - Sequentially loading pyro onto drones is complex and time-consuming [23][24][25] - Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, can cause significant delays and cancellations [22][26] Industry Perspective - FAA granted clearance for pyro drone shows in 2024 [21] - Drone show industry is described as a "wild west" with varying levels of experience among companies [19][20] - Pyro drone shows aim to enhance drone shows by adding moments of impact, especially finales [8]