Coming soon to a sky near you: LunaLite Drone Show

By Riley Kaminer

In Miami, we love a show – especially a sparkly one. Fireworks, while pleasing to the eye, are increasingly coming under fire for being environmentally unfriendly.

But could drones provide an equally magical, and more environmentally conscious, solution? One South Florida startup thinks so.

Adrian Allen is the CEO and creative director of LunaLite Drone Show, which has offices in Wynwood, its HQ, and Pompano Beach. The seven-person startup, which spun off from content creation company Steady Image Media Group, has developed a platform for creating unique drone experiences. The company, co-founded by Allen and and Arturo Lorde [pictured above], argues that these dynamic displays can be even more engaging than traditional fireworks or light shows.

“We tell stories in the sky,” Allen told Refresh Miami. “We create very engaging interactive performances, which we call formations. They really bring a ‘wow’ factor to those that are watching.”

Part of this ‘wow’ factor comes from the sheer scale of the drone shows, which involve anywhere from 50 to 100 drones or more. LunaLite themselves have a swarm of 400 drones always at the ready to perform. Allen said that it is not outside the realm of possibility to even have upwards of 4,000 drones dancing in sync in the sky. Drone light shows are scalable, with the number of drones used able to be increased or decreased depending on the size and scope of the event.

Getting to the point where they can deploy this many drones and make a show has been a technical feat for LunaLite. According to Allen, the company has undertaken a year and a half of research and development to bring together the best hardware, software, and talent to make their shows a reality.

Beyond LunaLite’s technical feats, the company has also spent significant time ensuring safety and compliance. “The logistics are often more involved than putting the show together,” asserted Allen, noting the need to coordinate between parties such as local municipalities, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the FAA.

A typical drone show will last 10-12 minutes and involve the LED-laiden drones buzzing in different directions to create animations, shapes, and different looks and feels in the sky – all set to a dramatic soundtrack. LunaLite works closely with their clients to determine the best moment to deploy the show in the air.

While the startup is just now launching, with its first few shows planned for next month, Allen said that they hope to partner with a wide range of customers. “We’re targeting large venues, concerts, music festivals, municipalities – and working with theme parks to put in permanent installations.”

Check out LunaLite’s platform in action by visiting their website.

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Riley Kaminer

I am a Miami-based technology researcher and writer with a passion for sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I particularly enjoy learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence, and innovators that leverage technology to transform society for the better. Always open for pitches via Twitter @rileywk or www.RileyKaminer.com.