Boeing Unveils Land-Based MQ-25 Autonomous Tanker Design

– Boeing is designing a larger, land-based version of its uncrewed MQ-25 tanker, targeting U.S. Air Force (USAF) future refueling plans including topping up Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in contested airspace. Company officials say they have been working with the Air Force on the design, which expands the 75-ft. wingspan of the Navy’s Stingray design […]

Lockheed Eyes Low-Cost Attritable Drone for CCA Increment 2

– Lockheed Martin, having “gold-plated” its initial bid for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, will focus on lower cost, more attritable aircraft in its proposal for the second increment, the head of the company’s legendary Skunk Works division told reporters Sept. 17. “What we see from a macro-level environment is … something that has more […]

Brazilian Army Tests XMobots Nauru 1000C VTOL Drone for Surveillance Missions.

The Brazilian Army has integrated the Nauru 1000C drone into its operations, in collaboration with the Brazilian manufacturer XMobots. This unmanned aerial system (UAS) is designed for defense and surveillance missions. Operational tests were conducted by the 7th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment from August 27 to 29, 2024, in Sant’Ana do Livramento to assess its capabilities. […]

Airbus and Quantum Systems Progress Autonomous Swarm Technology

At the beginning of August, a demonstration took place at the Airbus Drone Center near Manching, which marked the culmination and conclusion of an intensive research phase as part of the Bundeswehr study KITU 2 (Künstliche Intelligenz für taktische UAS; Artificial Intelligence for tactical UAS). The aim of the study was to develop innovative solutions […]

Season 19 America’s Got Talent finale: will Sky Elements be first drone show to win?

They’ve got talent. Sky Elements, alongside the other nine finalists, gave it their all on Tuesday night for the live performance of the America’s Got Talent finale. It’ll be a tough task for America to have to decide the winners. But we’ll go ahead and admit our bias and say it absolutely should be Sky Elements.

It’s not just because Drone Girl has a penchant for drones. Sky Elements has truly done what’s never been done before. They’re the first drone act of any kind of make it this far in the NBC-backed talent show, which is now in its 19th season.

America's Got Talent finale Season 19 Pasadena Civic Auditorium Sally French Briley Rose Drone Girl
Sally French, The Drone Girl, ahead of the finale taping of America’s Got Talent. Sally is holding a rose sticker, in honor of the prior week’s performance which paid tribute to Briley Rose. (Photo by Sally French)

And of course, every act is complex. The Hakuna Matata Acrobatic group performed not just complicated stunts, but complicated stunts done on a rolling barrel while wearing blindfolds. Sebastian and Sonia, who are aerial stunt performers, still plowed through their performance despite Sonia’s wrist injury. Roni of Roni & Rhythm has to coordinate with a performer who isn’t even human (aka it’s her dog).

But the Sky Elements drone show took on a special kind of challenge. Sky Elements also relies on non-human performers, being their massive fleet of drones. Their performance ends up higher in the air than any aerialist would ever go. And hey, their act even requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to pull off.

The Sky Elements ‘American Dream’ finale

Sky Elements America's Got Talent finale Season 19 Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Sky Elements takes the stage after their final performance. (Photo by Sally French)

For their final performance, Sky Elements paid tribute to the American Dream in an act that paid all sorts of tributes to the American dream. That included images of someone sailing to America, a train car, a patriotic eagle and the Statue of Liberty. It was set to the song “A Million Dreams” by Pink.

Watch it for yourself below:

Watching America’s Got Talent in-person (and how it’s different than the real show)

I was there in person to document the finale performance, live. It films at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where the vibes are electric. Oh, and loud. (If you ever see America’s Got Talent in-person, bring ear plugs, as the cheering is the loudest you’ll ever here.)

Now most acts occur live. But, the drone segment was pre-recorded. That’s a necessary measure because it’s not dark enough to see the drones when the show goes live (which is 5 p.m. PT). Even though the drones were the last act, that occurred around 6:50 p.m. PT, which is four minutes before the day’s official sunset time.

But that didn’t diminish the impact of their performance. On the screen, their drones danced and twirled, painting the night sky with patterns paying tribute to America’s history. That’s fitting for America’s Got Talent.

Sky Elements America's Got Talent finale Season 19 Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Behind-the-scenes of the America’s Got Talented during a commercial break. 3:06 until the commercial break ends! See those judges on stage! (Photo by Sally French)

For people in the audience, what viewers at-home saw was also aired on the screen — enabling the judges to give feedback too. And when the recording ended, the Sky Elements team took the stage, and the crowd still erupted in cheers. Their passion for making drone shows is infectious.

Less than a day after NBC posted the clip of the Sky Elements America’s Got Talent finale to its YouTube channel, it has already racked up nearly 100,000 views and more than 200 comments. Commenters called it the “Best act I’ve ever seen on AGT, ever” and proof of “why they should win the whole thing.”

Sky Elements is one of the 10 teams vying for the $1 million final prize. The winner will be named in a special, crowning show set for this Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET.

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How Autonomous Drone Delivery Will Revolutionize Last-Mile Delivery: Drone Radio Show!

Beth Flippo, CEO of Drone Express, talks with host Randy Goers about the company’s official launch into Winston-Salem and how autonomous drone delivery can provide economic and ecological benefits to communities. Drone Radio Show · How Autonomous Drones Will Revolutionize Last-Mile Delivery: Beth Flippo, CEO Drone Express Beth Flippo, CEO of Drone Express.  Drone Express […]

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Bee Cave, Texas: Fully Autonomous Drone First Responder Program Set to Launch

Bee Cave, Texas PD to launch autonomous DFR program By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The small, Austin suburb of Bee Cave, Texas hopes to be the first city in the country to launch a fully autonomous drones-as-first-responders (DFR) program for its police department. Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones told DroneLife that the city […]

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Windracers’ ULTRA Drones to Aid Critical Antarctic Research with NORCE

ULTRA UAVs to Support Norway’s Troll Observing Network in Expanding Global Understanding of the Antarctic Environment by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab English UAV developer Windracers recently announced that it had been contracted to provide independent Norweigan research institute NORCE with two of its ULTRA long distance cargo drones, for use in new scientific […]

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NHS to Begin Drone Delivery of Blood Samples Between London Hospitals

Wing and Apian Partner to Improve Medical Logistics and Patient Care The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) is preparing to launch a new initiative that will use drones to transport blood samples between two central London hospitals. The initiative, developed in partnership with Wing and Apian, aims to enhance patient care by optimizing hospital […]

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