Are Drones the Future of Art?

Drones are increasingly being used as an artistic medium. Photo: Animal New York.

Artists looking for a new and innovative creative medium should look no further than the drone. According to a report by the Guardian, technological advancements in the quadcopter field have reached a level of maturity where the artistic possibilities afforded by drones have surpassed the bird’s-eye view function more traditionally used by photographers.

The drones’ First Person View (FPV) is the most commonly implemented incarnation of the technology, but it remains impressive. Drones can provide audiences with perspectives of terrains that humans simply cannot enter, such as the inside of a volcano.

Innovations in GPS and RTK (real time kinematic: 100 times more accurate than GPS) have allowed the introduction of drone technology into live art forms such as theater. The Cirque du Soleil’s Sparked features an interactive performance between humans and drones. According to ITWT, Disney’s recently patented ‘pixels in the sky’ technology could create stunning aerial imagery without the danger associated with conventional fireworks.

Drones have developed at such a rapid pace that governments are struggling to keep up. Potential problems with aviation such as interference with air traffic control have prompted some commentators to predict that a blanket ban may be introduced in the near future.

But until the legislation catches up, there are no barriers to the creative potential of drones. For now, the sky is literally the limit.


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