World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit

AO Multimedia & Drones partners with Fireworks by Grucci to deliver spectacular multidiscipline display.

The 22nd World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit took place in Riyadh recently, welcoming more than 3,000 travel executives with a visual spectacular featuring pyrotechnics, lasers, searchlights and fireworks designed and produced by Creative Director Phil Grucci of Fireworks by Grucci, alongside Drones, Lights and Lasers Producer Marco Niedermeier from AO Multimedia & Drones, and Light and Laser Designer, Jerry P. Appelt.

For Phil Grucci, only “the best of the best in the industry” would do for this project. “The summit attendees were totally blown away with the multimedia show,” Grucci reflected.

“I have worked with Marco and Jerry for many years, including back in 2014 when we put on a show to celebrate the National Day here in Saudi Arabia, so we have a very long history of success together and we don’t let technology drive the design. In fact, it’s the other way around – the design drives the technology. By continuing to use our imagination, we will continue to deliver more ambitious, incredible displays.”

Appelt added: “This kind of show works well with different departments, and the human interaction between our different creative approaches worked great under Phil’s guidance. He has the vision, and we follow that vision. We are a very good team.”

“Phil Grucci and AO Multimedia & Drones have a successful history of creating great fireworks and drone shows,” Niedermeier commented. “Phil wanted to go big on this event, and brought us in to deliver a memorable LED drone, pyro drone, searchlight and laser show, including technical planning and execution, that would coordinate perfectly with the Grucci Fireworks display and be programmed to showcase logos and 3D effects while highlighting and respecting the historical site we were in.”

The multidiscipline show used a 1,600-strong fleet of AO drones – 1,000 of which were AO’s robust, supercharged LED drones, with the remaining 600 made up with AO pyro drones, which can eject a ‘waterfall’ of glitter-sparks into the night sky.

“The latest generation of high-end, supercharged drones enable us to create super flexible and super precise shows,” said Niedermeier. “The extended battery time and related additional power makes them less sensitive to high winds and allows larger distances between the take-off and landing zone and flight zone. These drones are adjustable to be used as LED or pyro drones as required.”

The team specified 34 lasers and 40 Falcon 7K Searchlights to enhance the skyhigh dynamics, as the huge fireworks display splashed colour across the summit’s supper ceremony, held in the At-Turaif area. The LED drones were programmed to showcase WTTCrelated imagery, while the lasers were used for 3D effects, beaming from the historic city towards the VIP terrace and programmed to map the outlines of the historical buildings in At-Turaif.

There were multiple challenges to realising the project – not least that fact that the drone launch pad was within a UNESCO World Heritage site where archaeological digs are live, and adjacent to the Royal Palace, where King Salman bin Abdul Aziz resides and has a helipad.

“We conducted many site visits and worked closely with the Diriyah Gate Development Authority to ensure our operations would be permitted and respectful of the surroundings, and they were incredibly supportive,” Niedermeier explained. “We had a lot of technical permissions to go through with the Royal Guard, with aviation authorities, and the police. We were in regular communication with them and were ready to halt test flights when there was a helicopter flying in or out of the palace. I am thrilled that we delivered a highly professional execution of the job, considering the special conditions for setup and security and observance of the guidelines.”

AO Multimedia & Drones constructed a specially designed launchpad for the drones using scaffolding to ensure it was raised from the ground, so as not to disturb the site or interfere with the many palm trees in the vicinity. The company also took special measures to ensure no damage was done to excavation areas.

For power, the team laid dozens of kilometres of cables, distributing power from six generators that were brought to site. The searchlights required specially built scaffolding towers, which were placed along the path of the Salwa Palace. “We even had to temporarily remove a telecommunications tower, which was next to the launch site and could have obstructed the drones,” Niedermeier revealed.

Testing was key, and much of this was done on-site in collaboration with the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Royal Guard and security services. AO geofenced the drones’ flight area and showed the authorities pre-visualisations, which clearly depicted their movement and ringfencing. In the planning stages, the teams worked closely to ensure the drones, lasers, searchlights and fireworks would be choreographed in perfect unison with each other and the accompanying show soundtrack.

With the show successfully combining multiple elements, TPiMEA asked Niedermeier if he thought this is indicative of a wider trend in the industry. “Yes, for sure,” he answered. “During the first years of LED drone shows, with limited control options and few experienced designers, they were mainly a standalone concept. Now, this new amazing kind of ‘flying pixel media’ can be fully integrated into complex programmed show runs, interacting with LED, light, laser, and pyro to add totally new impressions, contents, emotions and messages to any kind of show. It’s a new, sustainable, lasting and very versatile kind of entertainment and art.”

With the technology increasing in popularity, Niedermeier stressed the importance of experience in the field. “To design and operate complex drone shows requires much more than just investment,” he stated. “Drone pilots carry the same responsibility as aeroplane pilots. The micro-technology needs to be maintained perfectly; any production needs to be prepared with perfection. And this is just the operational part beside the challenging skills in a new dimension of design and programming. It is very important to choose reliable, experienced partners with this advanced technology.”

However, with the vast experience at AO’s disposal, Niedermeier believes that the company can be at the forefront of innovation in the future. “This new kind of media and entertainment is just starting to lift off. Just imagine a 150,000 sq m flying video screen providing a live feed during a World Cup, live interaction with shows, flying billboards in between buildings and amazing new creativity as soon as more and more designers start understanding and using the options of freeflying pixels in the sky. This will create thousands of new concepts, new companies and new jobs in media, communication, and entertainment. We are proud to have been part of this from the beginning and using our global experience to support this development.”

Photos: AO Multimedia & Drones www.ao-technology.com www.grucci.com