continuing quest to create innovative new business, has developed a spherical
drone display – an unmanned aerial vehicle that displays LED images on an
omnidirectional spherical screen while in flight – which DOCOMO believes to be
a world first (as of April 16, 2017).
The device comprises a spherical external frame,
an internal LED frame consisting of a series of eight curved LED strips that
extend from top to bottom, a drone fitted inside the sphere and legs protruding
underneath. During flight, the LED frame spins on its axis in a rapid
horizontal motion, forming an afterimage effect to create the illusion of a
solid sphere of motionless LEDs. The highly maneuverable drone can be operated
virtually anywhere, including venues such as concert halls or arenas where it
can fly around as part of a performance or deliver advertising messages, event
information, etc.
The maximum diameter of the spherical frame is
about 88 cm and the entire device, including the drone, weighs just 3.4 kg. The
display measures 144 pixels high and 136 pixels wide (horizontal
circumference).
Equipping a drone with a spherical display had
proved difficult until now due to challenges such as the display interfering
with the airflow of the drone’s propellers as well as the added weight of the
display. However, DOCOMO’s solution uses a largely hollow display that is
exceptionally lightweight and allows air to flow through it, yet it still
achieves the illusion of a solid display by creating an afterimage effect with
rapidly spinning LEDs.
DOCOMO aims to commercialize its spherical drone
display in the fiscal year ending in March 2019. Going forward, the company
will explore potential entertainment and messaging solutions for event venues,
including stadiums and concert halls.
DOCOMO will showcase its spherical drone display
at NTT ULTRA FUTURE MUSEUM 2017 during the Niconico Chokaigi conference at
Makuhari Messe, which will begin on Saturday, April 29. The exhibition
will include a flight demonstration inside the event hall.
Under the “docomo Drone Project,”
DOCOMO is exploring ways to combine aerial mobility and communications mobility
in innovative solutions for logistics, messaging, entertainment and other
fields.
About NTT DOCOMO
NTT DOCOMO provides innovative, convenient and
secure mobile services that enable smarter living for each customer. The
company serves over 65 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless
networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world’s first
commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile
operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC
mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental
monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical
and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner
companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437) and New York (DCM) stock
exchanges. Please visit https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/ for
more information.
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