Martin Professional and Verity Studios Redefine Drone Shows with Integrated Lighting

In a groundbreaking showcase at the HARMAN Experience Centre in Northridge, California, Martin Professional and Verity Studios unveiled a unified drone and lighting performance that sets a new standard for immersive entertainment. Held in April 2025, the three-day event demonstrated how Verity’s autonomous Lucie micro drones, paired with Martin’s advanced lighting fixtures, create a seamless, dynamic show experience, as detailed on Martin Professional’s official site.

A Choreographed Fusion of Drones and Light

The event’s centerpiece was a performance featuring Verity’s Lucie micro drones, weighing just 2 to 2.2 ounces, synchronized with Martin’s MAC Aura Raven XIP lighting fixture. The Raven XIP, with its high-resolution aura effects and bold beams, complemented the drones’ precise movements and LED-equipped payloads.

“We built the show with the MAC Aura Raven XIP as the lead performer,” said Brandon Robbins, Regional Sales Manager for North America, Martin Professional. “The real magic came from knowing when to let the drones take focus, and when to let the lighting drive the moment.”

Verity’s next-generation Lucie drones introduced the Mini Beam payload, a free-floating beam light untethered from physical fixtures—a first for stage lighting. This innovation allows designers to craft dynamic visuals with unprecedented flexibility, ideal for theater, concerts, and live events. The drones, engineered in Switzerland, fly for up to five minutes and are designed for safety-critical professional settings.

Technical Advancements Driving Creativity

The collaboration highlighted technical synergy. The MAC Aura Raven XIP’s pixelated aura enabled real-time beam effects that mirrored the drones’ flight paths. “At times, we’d isolate beams to echo the drones’ flight path—it was like handing off the visual lead, back and forth,” Robbins noted. Martin’s VDO Sceptron XB added vibrant, pixel-driven backdrops, while fixtures like the MAC Aura XIP and Exterior Wash Pro created a cohesive lighting ecosystem.

Verity’s drones, equipped with point lights and Mini Beam payloads, integrated seamlessly with this setup.

“Typical drone demos happen in dark rooms, but in real-world productions—whether it’s touring or theater—drones need to integrate with lighting in meaningful, artistic ways,” said Steve Maassen, Head of Live Events, Verity Studios. “The MAC Aura Raven XIP became a character of its own, with unique looks that complemented the drones beautifully.”

Implications for the Drone Show and Entertainment Industry

This partnership signals a shift in live entertainment, where drones and lighting converge to enhance storytelling. The ability to choreograph drones with responsive lighting opens new creative avenues for producers and designers, particularly in theater and touring productions.

“The way the lighting and motion were tied to the soundtrack really told a story,” said Glen Brodersen, Senior Technical Director at Sight & Sound Theatres.

Economically, integrated systems could streamline production costs by combining lighting and drone choreography into a single workflow, reducing setup complexity. However, regulatory hurdles, such as FAA restrictions on drone operations in crowded venues, may require careful navigation. The event also underscores the growing demand for safety-certified drones like Lucie, built for high-stakes environments.

A Vision for Future Performances

Since their initial collaboration in 2018, Martin and Verity have pushed the boundaries of integrated show design.

“This wasn’t about showing drones alone,” said Greg Jones, Manager, National & Strategic Accounts, North America Lighting, Martin Professional. “We wanted to demonstrate how they integrate into a real-world environment—lighting, staging, video.”

As Drone Technology and lighting systems evolve, this showcase proves their potential to transform live experiences, blending precision engineering with artistic vision.

Photos courtesy of Martin Professional and Verity Studios.