DroneBridge at Discovery 2026 in Belgium
On 15 October, I attended Discovery 2026 at Lab of Tomorrow in Belgium. It brought together drone manufacturers, show operators, software developers and people considering their first steps into the drone light show business.
For me, it was a great opportunity to connect with the people who make drone light shows possible and the operators who make them happen. There was also a grand finale to look forward to, with DroneBridge Drone Light Show Edition (DLSE) playing its part behind the scenes.
The people behind the show
Light Dynamix, AERORA and Stageconnect brought complementary experience to the event. Light Dynamix develops and manufactures commercial light show drones in the UK. Its PIXEL system gives operators a ready-to-fly route into the Skybrush ecosystem, with training, support and show software included.
AERORA, based in Ghent, designs and flies custom drone light shows across Europe and the UK. Bringing a manufacturer and an experienced show operator together gave the event a practical perspective: building the technology and using it to deliver a show involve closely connected challenges.
Light Dynamix is also a DroneBridge partner and has already contributed valuable input to DLSE’s development. Its latest drones are available with an optional dual-band communications setup running DroneBridge DLSE firmware. That close exchange between development and practical use helps shape features around the needs of show operators.
Where ideas and experience meet
The programme brought together the creative and technical sides of drone shows, with contributions from a show director, lighting designers and a developer from Skybrush. Hearing those perspectives together was a useful reminder of how much goes into a successful show, from the first creative idea through to the software, hardware and work on site.
What I particularly enjoyed was the atmosphere. Experienced industry partners and people exploring the business came together to exchange ideas, ask questions and share experiences.
There was plenty to learn from the talks, but the conversations around them were just as valuable.
For anyone thinking about building or buying a fleet, this is a great event to attend. Having manufacturers, developers and operators in the same place creates an opportunity to discuss different approaches and learn directly from people already working in the industry.
It also reflects something I value about the ecosystem connecting Light Dynamix, DroneBridge and Skybrush. Their work builds on an open-source community and a growing network of partners who share knowledge, challenge each other and help development move faster. Feedback travels between the people building the systems and those using them, giving everyone a chance to improve.
DroneBridge DLSE during the demonstration
Towards the end of the event, those connections became visible in a demonstration featuring 500 drones.
What made the finale memorable, though, was how well the show was designed and executed. Spanning around 250 metres across the sky, it combined strong storytelling, music and seamless transitions between the displayed elements.
The show brought together two fleets, with every drone running DroneBridge DLSE firmware for its primary data link:
| Fleet | Hardware | Wi-Fi band | Firmware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Dynamix PIXEL (In-House Fleet) | ESP32-C5 |
5 GHz | DroneBridge DLSE Beta7 |
| Light Dynamix PIXEL (AERORA) | ESP32-C6 |
2.4 GHz | DroneBridge DLSE Beta7 |
The demonstration showed DroneBridge DLSE delivering at scale, with hundreds of aircraft and the practical demands of a live production. Wi-Fi 6’s more efficient use of shared airtime and the option to distribute a fleet across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz become increasingly useful as fleets grow. The ESP32-C5’s dual-band capabilities give operators more flexibility when planning those communications.
New ideas for DLSE
I came away with plenty of input and new ideas for DLSE. Talking directly with the people preparing, managing and flying these fleets highlighted opportunities for improvements and new features. The aim is to turn that feedback into tools that make operators’ work easier.
Thank you to Light Dynamix, AERORA, Stageconnect and everyone who shared their experience. It was a great event, rounded off by a beautifully designed and executed show.
Learn more about DroneBridge Drone Light Show Edition.