On the Eurovision Music Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, the dazzling visuals weren’t simply coming from the contestants. They had been additionally powered by 104 flying lights, created through an progressive payload for drones known as the Mini Beam.
The Mini Beam payload is designed to mount on Lucie micro drones from Verity Studios — they usually made their debut as an official technical provider to the world’s most-watched dwell music occasion.
Mini Beams are way more than only a mild present drone. Whereas mild present drones create a speck of sunshine within the sky that — when positioned in tandem with different drones creates a definite formation — these lights are completely different. These Mini Beams from Verity are shifting spotlights. For lighting designers, a shifting beam mild mounted to the drones unlocks a totally new design vocabulary.
In any case, lighting designers now have way more inventive freedom in how they’re positioned relative to the particular person or different object they’re attempting to shine a lightweight on provided that the drone can fly virtually anyplace.
Two acts, one daring showcase
Greater than only a return to their homeland stage, Eurovision served as the primary dwell deployment of Verity’s new Mini Beam payload
The Lucie drones had been featured in two standout performances: the second interval act of Semi-Ultimate 1, which paid homage to Céline Dion’s 1988 profitable tune Ne partez pas sans moi, and the Grand Ultimate’s opening act, the place Nemo carried out final 12 months’s profitable quantity.
“The drones had been used as particular results throughout each the opening and interval acts,” mentioned Steve Maassen, Technical and Inventive Lead at Verity, in an unique interview with The Drone Woman. “Throughout the 2 performances, a complete of 104 Lucie Micro drones had been used.”
Oh, and by the best way, Verity has a protracted historical past with Céline Dion. Again in 2019, they had been the workforce behind the drone present on her world tour. Her encore efficiency, the tune “My Coronary heart Will Go On,” was carried out to a background of floating drones.
Eurovision’s fast-paced, high-stakes setting made integration a technical feat.
“To have the ability to carry out at Eurovision, dwell on such an necessary stage, that you must have a particularly dependable system,” Maassen mentioned. “Integrating our parts into Eurovision’s fast-changing, advanced stage setup whereas delivering the clear visuals required cautious planning to combine drone deployment and restoration seamlessly, with out disrupting the stream of the present.”
Regardless of the complexity, he mentioned the drones carried out flawlessly — and autonomously. As soon as deployed by hand, the Lucie drones accepted a timecoded present management set off (very like any form of drone present), flying in sync all through the efficiency.
“A single set off is sufficient to hold the drones in excellent sync for your entire flight, permitting for frame-accurate lighting cues,” Maassen mentioned. “Every drone follows a pre-programmed path and returns to its touchdown space on the finish of the choreography, the place it may be striked.”
What else to know in regards to the Mini Beam
Every Mini Beam drone weighs 63 grams (2.2 ounces) and may fly for as much as 4 minutes. See them in motion right here:
“The Mini Beam allows a completely untethered beam mild impact that may transfer freely in 3D house,” Maassen mentioned. “Designers can place beams near performers, circle them, or create interactions that aren’t doable with conventional rig, even when there may be heavy automation concerned. In comparison with our commonplace level mild impact, the Mini Beam provides a totally completely different visible language.”
Lighting designers have responded with enthusiasm.
“They’re enthusiastic about taking the classical beam mild look to the following degree by combining it with untethered flight,” Maassen mentioned. “They’re additionally excited to make use of the Mini Beams along with the purpose lights, which permits them to have an even bigger palette of results.”
Eurovision kicks off a brand new period for Verity
For Verity, a Swiss firm identified for its autonomous drone exhibits on world excursions and even some cruise ships (sure, Verity has everlasting installations aboard Royal Caribbean and Carnival Company cruise ships), the partnership is one more hold step for progress.
“Being chosen as a technical provider for Eurovision is a transparent validation of the precision and reliability our Lucie drones deliver to dwell environments,” mentioned Raffaello D’Andrea, Verity’s CEO and co-founder.
Verity has additionally placed on masterful state exhibits, together with a drone routine that for a time performed out each evening on stage for the Broadway Cirque du Soleil present known as “Paramour.” The corporate additionally powered the drones utilized in rapper Drake’s 2018 Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour.
And though the Mini Beam has simply launched, Verity is already fielding curiosity.
“It’s solely been a number of days, however we’ve already seen an uptick in inquiries,” Maassen mentioned.
With its Eurovision debut behind it and trade consideration quickly rising, Verity’s Lucie drones — now with Mini Beam in tow — are poised to take flight in additional venues the place creativeness meets automation.
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