DESCRIPTION
For the launch of Blackpool’s IMAX cinema, I developed a Unity project used to simulate a virtual drone show. The idea was to create hundreds of drones transitioning between cinematic shapes and formations in a way that looked believable.
ROLE
I was responsible for building the core Unity simulation that drove drone motion and formation transitions, with a focus on creating smooth, natural flight behaviour that could be used in the final promotional edit.
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
- Built a system where drones would transition between free-flight and organised patterns based on target shape meshes.
- Implemented motion behaviours and transition smoothing so drone movement felt natural during formation changes.
- Prepared Unity renders and exports for compositing, ensuring the simulation sequences aligned with the background footage.
- Learned and applied basic motion tracking and processing techniques to integrate the Unity output into the final video pipeline.
CHALLENGES
Working with a tracked video workflow was new to me, and the deadline made it even more intense. I had to learn the right tracking steps quickly and make sure the Unity output lined up cleanly with the final footage. It pushed me to iterate fast and stay focused on getting something that worked cleanly in the final edit.
TECHNICAL
- Unity (C#): drone formation logic and flight behaviours.
- Video integration: DaVinci Resolve for basic motion tracking and backdrop alignment.
- Workflow: rapid prototyping with a focus on believable motion and clean integration into the final edit.
VIDEO
