Aligned in groups of four on the sand of Juan-les-Pins beach, the pale drones don't look like much. On their back is attached a piece of blue fry allowing the flying machine to float on the surface of the sea, if ever an electronic failure were to cause it to fall…
“This remains quite rare, boats are there to receive potential falls”reassures Adel Daouzli, technical director for the company Allumee, service provider of the event.
In a few hours, the translucent belly of the 500 drones piloted for the show will light up, between thirty and ninety meters above the ground, in blue, green, red, etc. It is at this precise moment, which thousands of spectators were able to witness last night, that the beauty of these machines synchronized with each other is finally revealed.
Several weeks of work
Before offering such an aerial ballet, “it is the artistic, sound and visual work of an entire team that must be saluted”would like to point out Édouard Ferrari, the general director. A work of about a month and a half per show, according to the latter, where 3D software and brains work together to produce, in several stages, a small computer program ready for use. “Each drone will memorize the entire dance that will be entrusted to it: the light, its location, at what time, and with what music. Once in the sky, humans are only there to supervise”details Adel Daouzli.
What if you lose control? “If the swarm gets too close to the public, because of the wind for example, we are able to kill. That is to say, deactivate them to avoid possible accidents.”
On several occasions, the six technicians observe the agitated palm trees with apprehension. “If the wind blows too strong, we will have to cancel. I’m crossing my fingers that everything goes well”hopes the technical director. On several occasions, an anemometer drone is sent into the air to measure the speed of the gusts.
A show at 60,000 euros
A myriad of parameters must be taken into account to carry out the experiment: temperature, wind, batteries barely exceeding 15 minutes, “but also the take-off field, hilly here because of the sand”we point out. Not to mention the last-second technical problems, like these five drones unable to join their colleagues at the start of the show and condemned to stay on the ground.
A lot of pressure for, in the end, a grandiose and successful rendering, although the show was judged “too short” by some. A short quarter of an hour of show which cost the City 60,000 euros.
“This show was magical, magnificent”
Hovering above the ground, the 500 small drones look like UFOs straight from the “X-Files” series. Together, they draw, to the rhythm of an electronic sound, all kinds of flashing geometric shapes, bordering on psychedelic.
Enough to fascinate Sandrine and Alexis, who just a few minutes ago displayed a slight reservation: “We ask to see if it’s that good. Our daughter Thalie, who wanted to come, tickled our curiosity. » The same goes for Bernard and Jean-Marie, who came from the Lyon region. The couple, intrigued, hoped to see “an interesting way of approaching illuminations, other than fireworks”. Feeling reinforced after fifteen minutes of admiration, bordering on hypnotism. “It was magical, magnificent, all without the painful explosions in the ears,” says Anne-Marie, delighted.
A unanimous positive feedback? Not for Benoît, Sandy, and their friends, who were left wanting more… “We would have liked something more poetic and creative. Seeing these shapes lined up one behind the other in such a small space didn't please us very much, although the result was pretty. » And to deplore that the lights of the street lamps and Christmas decorations were not turned off for the occasion. “It spoiled our experience a little bit. »
Replace fireworks?
Drones or fireworks, which is better? “The two techniques are too different to be compared,” emphasizes Alexis, who still leans more towards the second option. “Fireworks remain a Proust madeleine that is difficult to overcome. »
Also out of the question for Benoît and Sandy to see the good old pyrotechnic powder supplanted by technology: “The emotions felt are much stronger, especially with the surprise effect of the sound of the explosion. And the final bouquet? We don't have that with drones either. »
In any case, from an ecological point of view, the drone option is under discussion, according to Édouard Ferrari, general director of the Allumee company. “No particles are generated during the show, we reuse the majority of our drones after each session, and it doesn’t make any noise.” This helps avoid disturbing the surrounding wildlife.
Safety highlighted
Several Internet users reported security problems once the show ended. The climb up Avenue Guy-de-Maupassant actually proved more difficult than expected due to the construction site in progress, blocking one of the sidewalks. “People found themselves with young children in the works, among the slabs and scrap metal, or on the pontoons. The barriers were open without any security and people had no information on where to go,” lamented a resident. “Dangerous for pedestrians,” said another, also denouncing the incredible behavior of motorists ready to take the seaside in the wrong direction from Golfe-Juan. » All accentuated by the presence of an impressive crowd: “A crazy world”, in the opinion of an Internet user.
