With MyMagic+ becoming a way of life at Walt Disney World, it appears as if technology is sweeping in and taking control of things to make life a bit easier. Well, there is now talk that Disney could actually start taking advantage of drones in theme park entertainment to make things different and safer.
A report from MarketWatch stated that things could begin in Disneyland, but eventually move out around the different Disney Parks.
Apparently, Disney (DIS) applied for three UAV-related patents that include drones that could either hold marionette-type characters or projection screens for nighttime entertainment.
“The inventors recognized that presently there are no mechanisms for creating very large aerial displays such as a display that is reusable/repeatable, dynamic, and interactive,” the patent states.
The three applications are as follows:
- Aerial Display System with Floating Pixels
- Aerial Display System with Floating Projection Screens
- Aerial Display System with Marionettes Articulated and Supported by Airborne Devices
In order to address the need, Disney’s R&D department is apparently working on creating a multi-drone aerial display system as well as a ground control station that could choreograph repeatable movements.
These drones could make it possible for much larger characters (puppets) to be used in parades and other entertainment. Think of how Tapestry of Dreams had the large characters at Epcot many years ago.
“This is a significant improvement over prior flying characters, which typically were provided in the form of parade or other blimps/balloons filled with hot air or other gases and that had little and/or awkward articulation of any movable parts,” according to the patent.
In turn, the patents go on to say that in time, fireworks could be replaced by drones that could have an aerial display system based on the floating pixel aka “flixel.” The drones would each carry a lighting mechanism that could display images and/or colors while using the sky as a sort-of screen.
The patents were published by DIS as of Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. Those that applied for the patents were James Alexander Stark, Robert Scott Trowbridge, and Clifford Wong – all part of Walt Disney Imagineering.
While there is no official word from Disney as of yet as to how drones could be used or even if they will, the idea is now at least out there with the patents being obtained. It could be very interesting to see where this goes in the next few years.
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