Now
72
Sat
80
Sun
77
by Walt Maciborski<\/a>
AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 <\/span>Verge Aero, based in Buda, just outside of Austin, is taking elaborate drone shows to new heights, using cutting-edge technology to tell stories in the sky.
So, when the University of Texas was looking for a company to elevate the fan experience at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium they called Verge Aero, and Executive Senior Associate AD at UT Drew Martin will never forget the call with his team.
\u201cWe said, \u2018You're not going to believe this, I found a drone company,\u2019\u201d Drew said. \u201cAnd not only are they in the Austin area, but it's run by a Texas EX and he really wants to work with us.\u201d
That was Verge Aero CEO Nils Thorjussen.
\u201cWe were super excited because I\u2019m an alum and this is our hometown so to be able to do something fun for the team was really just an awesome experience,\u201d Nils said.
Drew and his team at UT didn\u2019t exactly know how Verge Aero was going to pull off their complicated plan but, it wasn\u2019t Nils\u2019 first rodeo.
\u201cSo, we could quickly design the content they wanted and deploy it at exactly the right place at the North end of the stadium,\u201d Nils said.
Verge Aero\u2019s creative team first built the show on the computer using their proprietary software and a Google Earth map of the UT campus. They could show and track the movement of the drones from liftoff, during the show and then the landing.
And of course, they programmed the drones to form UT\u2019s iconic symbols. Plus, the 300 drones can do all that without bumping into each other.
\u201cSo, we have a big robust drone, and it can withstand a lot of wind and then we marry it with GPS that is very precise,\u201d Nils said. \u201cYou can\u2019t just use regular GPS you have to enhance it with greater air correction and precision.
Here\u2019s the script.
\u201cWe knew that the best moment in the game for us to facilitate the drone show was the end of the 3rd quarter,\u201d Assistant Athletics Director of Marketing at UT Athletics Charles Branch said.
\u201cWhere we marry the tradition of the band playing Wabash Cannonball,\u201d Drew said. \u201cThat goes into the famous (Walter) Cronkite spot of, \u2019What starts here changes the world.\u2019\u201d
Then Verge Aero pushed a button and launched the drones.
\u201cAnd we knew that\u2019s where wanted the drones to come in, right when he said, \u2018Get your horns up,\u2019\u201d Charles said. \u201cHow amazing would that be to have a giant hook \u2018em horns sign in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n