Intel's Shooting Star drones are designed to entertain. The UAVs are built with LEDs that can be programmed to light up the sky with animations. No matter how many drones are in the swarm, they can all be controlled by a single pilot.
As an official worldwide sponsor of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, Intel wanted to use the platform to make a big splash with its Shooting Stars, and the opening ceremony seemed to be the largest stage possible. That was until the drones were grounded due to an "impromptu logistical change." Intel had 300 drones ready to launch as part of the light show, but those plans were scrapped. It must've been a difficult pill to swallow for the premium sponsor.
But not all was lost, as Intel did have another marketing ace up its sleeve. Broadcasted via tape delay and recorded in December, Intel set a new Guinness World Record for the most drones flown at the same time. More than 1,200 (1,218) of the company's Shooting Star drones illuminated and formed the shape of the five-ring Olympics logo. What is really impressive is the software that programs the drones to perform intricate animations — it is an interesting intersection between the technology and art worlds.
Intel held the previous world record when it flew 500 drones simultaneously at an event in Germany in 2016. No official word on what caused the “logistical change,” but Intel did previously note that the drones had never before flown in such cold temperatures,
The taped version was still seen by 28.3 million people in the U.S. Not a bad footprint, depending on the marketing spend.