CHAPTER 5

Experimental Recreational Drones

The possibility of making life-saving medical deliveries shows the serious side of drones. But drones have a fun side too. People of all ages like playing with drones. Some people even come up with new uses for drones as they experiment.

A drone takes photographs while shooting a movie in India in 2012.

The entertainment industry uses drones to make movies, stage plays, and concerts more exciting for audiences. Filmmakers like to get close-up action shots of stuntmen for their movies. To get an above-the-ground shot, directors can use helicopters. But helicopters can be very expensive. They must also stay far away from the set for the safety of the people on the ground. Drones have resolved both of these issues. They’re much less expensive than helicopters and they can get very close to the action on set. Many people in the film industry feel that drones will continue to become more valuable to filmmaking.

DRONES ON STAGE

In 2014 a fleet of 15 drones flew in a concert in London’s Barbican theater. The drones were costumed and lit with spotlights. They flew over the audience as an orchestra performed music on stage. The drones moved in time with the music. The producer of the event compared the coordination to that of a military operation.

Personal Flying Machine

Would you take a ride on a drone? Chinese company Ehang has invented a drone that can carry a human passenger. The Ehang 184 drone looks like a small helicopter. It has four arms. Each arm has a rotor attached to its top and bottom. The Ehang 184 is designed to carry a person weighing up to 264 pounds (120 kg).

Ehang 184 would allow people to travel short distances in the air. You would just hop on board and program in where you want to go. The drone would then transport you to your destination. Don’t expect a long flight, though. It can stay in the air only about 20 minutes before needing to be recharged.

The Ehang 184 was displayed at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

FACT

The “184” in the name Ehang 184 was given because the drone has one passenger, eight propellers, and four arms.