Drone swarm flight planners are enjoying greater demands amid the booming development of China's low-altitude economy.
Xu Tanghao majored in 3D printing in college. After graduation, he worked in architectural modeling and design. In 2021, seeing the increasing number of applications for drones, he joined the drone department of Jiangxi Aero Future General Aviation Company.
Before each performance, the first thing we need to do is to creatively design and build models of patterns according to customer requirements, and then set the coordinates, lights and flying movements of each drone on the computer, according to Xu. "These densely packed light spots on the computer screen correspond to individual drones. After our drones take off, they will form the shapes we have preset in advance," said Xu.
"So how do you keep thousands of drones from colliding in the sky? The key is to program the drones' flight paths," said Xu.
Before every show, a flight planner must conduct detailed preliminary surveys and tests based on factors such as site signals, weather conditions, wind speed to ensure that each aircraft can reach the designated position during flight.
With over three years in the industry, Xu has participated in the planning of over 500 flight shows.
Besides being familiar with the performance of various aircraft models, a flight planner must also master 3D algorithms, creating smooth, three-dimensional patterns in the air through coding and programing, said practitioners.
"Because we're not dealing with a single drone, but hundreds or even thousands of them. They all need to coordinate with each other, so you can see that each aircraft must be at least 1.8 meters apart. The positioning and lighting changes must be precise down to the second, and the flight logic and aesthetics must also be guaranteed. Therefore, the programing must be meticulous and flawless," said Wu Yixuan, a drone swarm flight planner at Jiangxi Aero Future General Aviation Company.
As drone performances have now become a new growth point to stimulate consumption, the company's business is becoming increasingly busy, with nearly 200 performances having been held this year alone.
The company is also mulling over recruiting new, experienced drone swarm flight planners, with a monthly salary starting at 10,000 yuan (1,392.35 U.S. dollars).
"The market is growing. With festivals, tourism promotions, and mass audiences now embracing it, more and more people are embracing it. Last year, our company's revenue from this sector was around 70 million yuan, and we are very confident about the future," Li Yang, director of the air entertainment division of Jiangxi Aero Future General Aviation Company.
Drone swarm planners enjoy greater demands amid booming low-altitude economy
