Puy du Fou has become the first theme park to introduce an ‘intelligent’ drone fleet to enhance its visitors’ experience.
France’s second most-visited theme park (after Disneyland Paris) allows visitors to witness history being brought to life through 60+ shows – from the Vikings and Knights of the Round Table, to Richelieu’s Musketeers and Gallo-Roman gladiator games.
The drone technology was specially created for the park’s flagship show Cinéscénie – which, at over 23 hectares is also the world’s largest night show.
Says Nicolas de Villiers, president, Puy du Fou, says: “We wanted to create the biggest chandelier in the world in the sky, moving and then disappearing. One of the trialled solutions was to suspend part of the set 30 metres high, and another was to use helium balloons.
A turning point came when the artistic team joined forces with lighting designer Koert Vermeuleun, founder of ACT Lighting Design. At the start of 2013, the two combined their experience to find a technological solution that would transform the sky into an additional part of the set.
The Neopter is the result of a €2 million investment, the work of 50 engineers over two years and four patents. The Neopter fleet of 50 at Puy du Fou is the first drone fleet capable of flying outdoors while synchronising with music, video and lights alongside over 3,400 actors.
With embedded intelligence and GPS, the Neopters fly autonomously, in wind and rain, can take off from and land on water, and carry loads of 3kg.
Adds de Villiers: “We will be the first project to use this many drones and it’s been very complex. That’s why we created our own drones. They fly automatically and have their own ‘brain’ so they can make decisions and leave the choreography and go ‘home’ if their motor or battery is not working well.
“We’re seeing drone technology become increasingly prominent outside its military origins, and by exploring the new opportunities opened up by the Neopters, we are excited to be pioneering a new way in the world of entertainment. At Puy du Fou, we aim to transport visitors out of the 21st century into the past and this technology is truly enabling us to push the boundaries further.”
Source: AV Magazine