For his latest ballet production at the Bavarian Opera, the known dancer and choreographer Richard Siegal asked for a flying stage light that should look like a firefly. At short notice, the Institute of Flight System Dynamics developed a solution based on a custom modified ultra light-weight quadrotor helicopter. We are used to operate our multirotors in challenging environments, but to fly above world-class dancers on a stage with more than 2000 spectators – that was really exciting. And now we are eager to realize the next step, a swarm of fireflies powered by our latest flight control algorithms.
Some press commentaries and links:
- “Eine kleine Drohne steuert surrend wie ein fremdes leuchtendes Insekt durch die Luft” (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19. April 2015)
- “Der Unruhe-Punkt ist eine von den Ingenieuren der Technischen Universität München für die Aufführung modifizierte Drohne (Quadrokopter) – ein frei beweglicher Lichtpunkt, der Verwirrung stiftet” (Münchner Merkur, 19. April 2015)
- Bayerisches Staatsballett – Portrait Richard Siegal
- Official cast list