500 Intel Drones To Replace Fireworks Above Travis Air Force Base For Fourth of July (techcrunch.com)

The Fourth of July is a little different today at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. From a report: Instead of fireworks, 500 Intel Shooting Star drones will take to the sky to perform an aerial routine in honor of the holiday and the base's 75th anniversary. These are the same drones that preformed at Disney World, the Super Bowl and the Olympics. One person controls the fleet of drones thanks to a sophisticated control platform that pre-plans the route of each drone. Intel engineers told me that the system can control an unlimited amount of drones. In the version I saw, the drones used GPS to stay in place and the drones lacked any collision detection sensors.

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500 Attempts to Get First Post on Slashdot for 4th

[Anonymous Coward]

victory is mine, m'ladies

(tips fedora vigorously)

Re:Did anyone else see Intel drones

[fisted]

You are trying way too hard.

Perfect

[Jason1729]

This perfectly sums up the modern american nanny state. Take away something we've enjoyed for generations, replace it with an amazingly crappy knockoff that's "safer" while destroying the entire spirit to the point where it's completely pointless.

And emphasize how great it is for a private company.

I don't know who will be watching these glorified LED throwies, but I'll be out watching fireworks tonight. At least as long as I still can in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Re:Perfect

[b0s0z0ku]

It's not a nanny state, it's a corporate-military state. Intel showing off its military technology. Think of it as the modern equivalent of artillery (which fireworks were meant to represent).

Just as bad, but differently bad.

Re:Perfect

[Anonymous Coward]

Where does it say that they are using drones because of safety? It looks to me like they are doing it because it is cool.

Re:Perfect

[Anonymous Coward]

This perfectly sums up the modern american nanny state. Take away something we've enjoyed for generations, replace it with an amazingly crappy knockoff that's "safer" while destroying the entire spirit to the point where it's completely pointless.

Dude, you need more of your meds, or something else entirely.

This isn't some fucking conspiracy to deny you fireworks.

At least as long as I still can in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Please, none of those things has been true in almost 17 years.

Land of the 100-mile border searches so fuck you and your Constitution and the home of the cowering and simpering idiots who will hand over their freedoms to keep safe from something statistically less likely than being struck by lightning while claiming the winning lottery ticket.

Keep telling yourself it's still the land of the free and the home of the brave. Surround yourself with enough other simpering cowards and idiots and you might even believe it.

The rest of us know it's a lie.

America has practically become the poster child for state control and believing that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear. Americans have practically begged for the police state since 9/11, and the Republicans have been leading that charge.

You want to know who is giving you your nanny state? Look to the ones passing surveillance laws and generally pushing the notion that law enforcement should have access to everything. I guarantee you, it will be the party who claims to be in favour of small government and personal freedom (who in reality is the party in favour of religion and corporate greed).

That Americans still think they're free and brave is pathetic, and speaks more to your egos than your intelligence.

Re:Perfect

[tlhIngan]

This perfectly sums up the modern american nanny state. Take away something we've enjoyed for generations, replace it with an amazingly crappy knockoff that's "safer" while destroying the entire spirit to the point where it's completely pointless.

And emphasize how great it is for a private company.

I don't know who will be watching these glorified LED throwies, but I'll be out watching fireworks tonight. At least as long as I still can in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

That would be true, if you're talking about the bumpkin fireworks display that you buy from the store.

No, the firework displays you talk of are professional done - and these have very strict rules on where they can launch, where they shoot up, and where the audience can be. These ones are also strictly controlled and permitted and do not generally have to abide by firework laws.

About the only complaint anyone has with them (excepting disasters) is the environmental impact of sending up all that black powder and heavy metals, usually seen as the huge cloud of smoke that accumulates and is visible midway through the show.

Those drone shows Intel puts on are in general alternatives.

Oh, and most fireworks companies are private as well. Though none is as big as Intel - most are family run. Some even have their own manufacturing facilities, but that generally requires a lot of work and is reserved for a few special ones they can't buy from China. (Seriously, the rules on manufacturing firework is pretty strict, meant to avoid explosions and other risks that can level a city block. Of course, China has no such provisions and well, yeah, accidents do happen).

Of course, tastes do change as well. I was never a fan of fireworks - the booms just never really did it for me, and although it was pretty, they were still limited in effect. 500 drones doing light draw animations can be more interesting.

Re:Perfect

[nospam007]

Take away something we've enjoyed for generations, “

Fireworks are a Chinese invention, can‘t have that during avtrade war.

Re:Perfect

[Presence Eternal]

I've read that fireworks are a common problem for people suffering from PTSD and that they make many veterans quite miserable. Maybe this thinking was involved.

Re:Perfect

[Anonymous Coward]

No it a is a country full of feckless pussies who never miss a chance to moan and bitch about a new daily outrage. And the Internet has given the those on the edge of reason to make their outrage of the day seem bigger than they really are. Randomly sampling 1000 people in a country of +350 million does not revel the true opinions of the US. The most diverse country in the world is not easily categorized. Just look at all the polls in the last Presidential election and see utter failure by all those experts. On this 4th of July put aside the inane bullshit spouted from people who define their entire existence on hate and realize the truth. No country on the planet comes close to the diversity of the US. Thousands of people become US legal US citizens every week. It is not a perfect state by any means but it never has been. The ideals in the US Constitution are not articles of fact but articles of ideals. Ideals worth striving for. "Every man is created equal .." has never been a truth but it is a goal to strive towards. The citizen rights etched in the Constitution and Bill of Rights should be defended when necessary but it seems these very rights are being used to destroy the country from the inside. People who have never had any government protected rights some how think they understand what they are talking about. Those who use fear of what could happen instead of what is happening and abandon civility in their attempts to destroy what they hate will most likely not like the results.

Re:Perfect

[Anonymous Coward]

No it a is a country full of feckless pussies who never miss a chance to moan and bitch about a new daily outrage. And the Internet has given the those on the edge of reason to make their outrage of the day seem bigger than they really are. Randomly sampling 1000 people in a country of +350 million does not revel the true opinions of the US. The most diverse country in the world is not easily categorized. Just look at all the polls in the last Presidential election and see utter failure by all those experts. On this 4th of July put aside the inane bullshit spouted from people who define their entire existence on hate and realize the truth. No country on the planet comes close to the diversity of the US. Thousands of people become US legal US citizens every week. It is not a perfect state by any means but it never has been. The ideals in the US Constitution are not articles of fact but articles of ideals. Ideals worth striving for. "Every man is created equal .." has never been a truth but it is a goal to strive towards. The citizen rights etched in the Constitution and Bill of Rights should be defended when necessary but it seems these very rights are being used to destroy the country from the inside. People who have never had any government protected rights some how think they understand what they are talking about. Those who use fear of what could happen instead of what is happening and abandon civility in their attempts to destroy what they hate will most likely not like the results.

that's rich, especially coming from another one of those "feckless pussies who never miss a chance to moan and bitch about a new daily outrage" like yourself. pot meet kettle, bitch.

Re:Perfect

[HiThere]

Well, I was a fan of personally lit fireworks. Not a huge fan, but a fan. The professional displays I don't bother to watch, and I never understood the reason why they were though equivalent by anyone. The symbolism is totally different.

Of course, a centralized display of fireworks is appropriate for a country that is has centralized control. So in that sense the change of the rules makes sense, with fireworks standing in for control of power.

Re:Perfect

[HiThere]

So is paper and printing.

Re:Perfect

[mikael]

But at least it gives low performing employees something to do - oh not that kind of drone. I just imagined a Dilbert cartoon with the employees tied to weather balloons and made to wave glowsticks around.

Re:Perfect

[dwye]

Remember that you wrote it here, first, and watch the strip next year.

But that does sound like something that PHB might at least daydream of doing.

Re:Perfect

[mikael]

Or Minions

The question is...

[Z80a]

Do you actually want intel to have an unlimited number of drones?
I mean, they're already creepy enough with those multicolored dancing bunny suit people.

Re:500 Attempts to Get First Post on Slashdot for

[Anonymous Coward]

You lose. Good day, sir.

lame

[bobmagicii]

for my 75th i want real explosions... maybe the drones will crash into eachother at least.

Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[Bruce Perens]

I saw the Intel drone show at Bellagio during CES, twice. It's nice to see for the first time, when one has never seen a drone show. But it's ultimately just 500 color LEDs in the sky and not nearly as visually exciting as a fireworks show. To have it in addition to fireworks makes sense. Replacing the fireworks show? There will be some disappointed kids.

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[Anonymous Coward]

You sound like an old man pining for the days of 35 HP "muscle cars" that make immense amounts of noise, accelerate like a shopping cart and handle the same.
Kids are perfectly happy, it's the adults that are disappointed.
No one pays attention to them or the silly old things they liked.
Like Space Nuttery.

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[Anonymous Coward]

It would have been much more interesting if these drones could be made to perform combat maneuvers and strike targets in a coordinated way at a range with reduced explosion payloads, with the added chemical light effects added on top. The audience gets helmets and ear protection, of course. That would be something the kids will remember a long time. As a bonus, it would work as an exercise for the pilots and programmers.

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a military base, they should be shooting down the drones with fireworks.

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[dohzer]

Hey buddy, it's dangerous being a muscle car driver. That noise is very necessary to notify the vehicle next to you of your presence.
Oh wait... or am I thinking of motorbikes....? Either way, all I know is that everything I own needs to be loud and I will fight anyone who says different!!!1

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[grep -v '.*' *]

In the version I saw, ... the drones lacked any collision detection sensors.

Cool. So you wait for them to get in a mostly vertical stack, and take out the top one with your drone. SKY PINBALL! At least now you've got the "falling fireworks" covered.

Re:Nice Once, But Ultimately Boring

[Anonymous Coward]

But it's the *US* military - they would need about a megaton of fireworks, and accidentally blow it up on the wrong continent...

Happy 4th of july - this year i'm rooting for the aliens instead of Bill Pullman!

Also drought & wild fires

[rsilvergun]

we're kinda ignoring the massive drought going on in the southwest right now because water subsidies hide the impact. But right about now is not the time to be firing off massive fireworks.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Preformed drones are so convenient

[Anonymous Coward]

Just turn it on and fly it, no tedious carving, gluing and soldering!

Imagine 500 Drones in Terror Attack...

[Anonymous Coward]

Scary thought. Most security strategies to protect the power-elite, celebrities, important buildings, and infrastructure are geared towards 2 dimensions, not 3. Seems the main barrier an attacker is drone coordination software. Does a readily available open-source or commercial version exist? If so, it's just a matter of time.

As for a show, combining drones with fireworks could be interesting. That is having many drones in the swarm each launch miniature fireworks while airborne. Though, such a capability could be abused and utilized to launch explosives, shoot bullets, drop payloads, etc.

Rambling on, but in my view, drone swarms isn't something to celebrate, and should be highly restricted, such as landmines and chemical weapons are.

Rescheduled, not open to public

[alokeb]

Due to high winds, the show has been rescheduled to 7/5 in the AM and is open only to DoD card holders and family per their website/Twitter post: https://twitter.com/Travis60AM...

Unlimited?

[Anonymous Coward]

I doubt that it can control unlimited amount of drones. Add enough of them so that the drones become a planet with its own noticeable gravity and you will certainly lose control.

POSTPONED

[Subgenius]

This drone show has been postponed until July 5th (for DOD card holders and families ONLY) due to high winds on the base today.

http://www.kcra.com/article/tr...

Re:POSTPONED

[HiThere]

I don't know kcra, but a Google search confirms this story. (Well, the winds. I didn't check about visitor limitations, but that's normal for a military base anyway.)

BK's legacy

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess if you can't make decent CPUs anymore, trying to mimic fireworks is one way to go.

cannot possibly replace fireworks for...

[Anonymous Coward]

history-loving patriots. It's not just some spiffy lights in the air, which drones most-certainly can be and will be even more in the future. The fireworks are a simulation of bursting artillery/cannon shells and they are tightly tied to the national history and the national anthem. The lights, sounds, and smells of the explosions are all part of the patriotic celebration/commemoration. It's very shallow to presume that blinking LEDs and whining brushless motors are a "replacement" even if some Air Force people who arose in the PC climate of the Obama administration embrace such a stunt.

"O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Happy Independence Day, America!

Re:cannot possibly replace fireworks for...

[Anonymous Coward]

history-loving patriots. It's not just some spiffy lights in the air, which drones most-certainly can be and will be even more in the future. The fireworks are a simulation of bursting artillery/cannon shells and they are tightly tied to the national history and the national anthem. The lights, sounds, and smells of the explosions are all part of the patriotic celebration/commemoration. It's very shallow to presume that blinking LEDs and whining brushless motors are a "replacement" even if some Air Force people who arose in the PC climate of the Obama administration embrace such a stunt.

"O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Happy Independence Day, America!

Hear, hear!

Re:cannot possibly replace fireworks for...

[Thomas Charron]

So what you saying is. You just want to see big roman candles. You know, since you just want to simulate the old military rockets..

Re:500 Attempts to Get First Post on Slashdot for

[Anonymous Coward]

victory is mine, m'ladies

(tips fedora vigorously)

super loser spotted. real people aspire to great things, and this being your great thing shows how much of a loser you are

Articles not quite right

[Anonymous Coward]

They haven't had a fireworks show at Travis in about twenty years. They stopped doing them there and the next town over took over. I can't remember the precise year, but it was before 9/11/01 even.

Breaking news:

[uvajed_ekil]

This just in: The fourth of July drone celebration at Travis Air Force Base has been cancelled, because no one wants to see that shit instead of fireworks.

Re:500 Attempts to Get First Post on Slashdot for

[Anonymous Coward]

... and they say that satire is dead.

Re:Did anyone else see Intel drones

[fisted]

You are still trying way too hard.

Re:Did anyone else see Intel drones

[Anonymous Coward]

That's what your dad said when you where young..

Re:Did anyone else see Intel drones

[fisted]

You are still trying way too hard..

never enjoyed the loud noises

[Anonymous Coward]

I never enjoyed the loud noises when I went out for fireworks especially when I was younger