Patent Publication Number: US-2020285252-A1

Title: Methods and apparatus to create drone displays

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates generally to drones, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to create drone displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (e.g., drones) have become available as commercial and recreational devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example drone display system constructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure, and shown in an example environment of use. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example implementation of the example drone display design system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an example implementation of the example flight system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart representative of example hardware logic or machine-readable instructions for implementing the drone display design system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example processor platform structured to execute the example machine-readable instructions of  FIG. 4  to implement the example drone display design system of  FIGS. 1 and/or 2 . 
     
    
    
     In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. Connecting lines or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Presenting images and videos (pre-taped or live) to large audiences (e.g., at a concert, in a stadium, at an outdoor venue, in an indoor venue, at an outdoor aquatic event, at a race, etc.) can be challenging. Physical screens must be installed, which are directed toward certain viewing areas, and may be visible to only a subset of the audience. To overcome these challenges, a fleet of choreographed, flying, light-emitting UAVs (e.g., drones) can be used to create drone displays (e.g., a static and/or moving virtual video screens in the air). In some examples, a drone display is partially or wholly formed by drones on a static surface such as a hillside. Drone displays can be tilted, curved, spherical, two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), geometric, non-geometric, etc. In some examples, drone displays are easily viewed, easily customizable, reusable, etc. 
     In some examples, drone displays have configurable resolutions, are dynamically locatable (e.g., movable between various positions), are arbitrarily shaped (e.g., geometric, non-geometric, etc.), are dynamically shaped (e.g., a shape that is morphing, changing, etc.), and/or are dynamically sizable. Compared to conventional physical screens, some drone displays can be dynamic entities that can move, change and/or be part of a presented show. In some examples, the configuration of an audience can be tracked or known a priori and used to adapt a drone display. A non-limiting example of a drone display has a shape (e.g., a hemisphere, a dome, a cone, etc.) of drones hovering above a large crowd displaying spherical (e.g., 360 degree) videos, wind and weather data, and/or stellar and planetary constellations 
     To improve the creation of drone displays, examples disclosed herein can, among other aspects, automatically optimize the number, position, shape, size of the drone display(s) based on the configuration of a venue, and map content (e.g., an image, a video stream, a generated pattern, etc.) onto the automatically optimized drone display. That is, disclosed examples assist in the planning of a drone display, enable the dynamic mapping of content to a 2D or 3D drone display, and can adapt the geometry of drone displays as an audience moves. Most known content mapping solutions are limited to the mapping of content onto 2D displays. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to non-limiting examples, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example drone display system  100  constructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure, and shown in an example environment of use  102 . The example drone display system  100  of  FIG. 1  controls any number and/or type(s) of UAVs (e.g., drones  104 ) to form an example drone display  106  on which content is displayed. In some examples, the drones  104  are colored, illuminated, reflective, shaped, etc. in one or more directions to form the example drone display  106 . In some examples, a drone  104  can display assorted colors in different directions. The example drone display  106  is shaped, sized, positioned, etc. to be viewed by persons  108 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 1 , the persons  108  are positioned in the stands  110  of a portion  112  of a stadium  114 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 1 , the drone display system  100  controls the drones  104 , and/or, more generally, the drone display  106  via a cellular telephone tower  115 , a wireless access point (AP), a wireless hotspot, etc. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the drones  104  are programmed by the drone display system  100 , including any applicable safety precautions, and flown autonomously. 
     To enable a user  116  to design one or more aspects of the example drone display  106 , the example drone display system  100  of  FIG. 1  includes an example drone display design system  188 . In some examples, the drone display design system  118  includes a collection of standalone applications (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), a collection of integrated applications (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), etc. accessed via, for example, a user interface  202  ( FIG. 2 ). In some examples, the applications (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ) are web-based applications integrated to form a web-based drone design display portal. In some examples, the applications (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ) are standalone applications integrated to present the appearance of an integrated solution. The user  116  via, for example, the user interface  202   a  of the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 1 , provides input(s)  120  that represent the configuration of an audience  122 . Example inputs  120  include, but are not limited to, the number of rows of audience members  108  (e.g., three rows shown in  FIG. 1 ), the rows arranged on an upwardly sloped audience stand  112 , the rows extending along a curved stadium  114 . The user  116  may, for example, also provide additional inputs  120  such as the angle of the sloped audience stand  112 , the radius of the curved stadium  114 , etc. Example inputs may, additionally, and/or alternatively, include design constraints and/or desired aspects of the drone display  106  such as, shaped (e.g., curved as shown in  FIG. 1 ), one-sided or more than one sides, viewing angle (e.g., an audience member  108  doesn&#39;t have to look upward by more than N feet, or M feet left or right), etc. In some examples, some such inputs  120  are selected from a plurality of options and/or examples. 
     To design the drone display  106 , the example drone display system  100  includes the example drone display design system  188 . As described below in connection with  FIG. 2 , the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 1  uses the inputs  120  provided by the user  116  to design the drone display  106  and to map content  124  onto the drone display  106 . In this way, the drone display design system  188  assists the user  116  in the design of the drone display  106 . In some examples, the drone display design system  118  uses optimization techniques to design the drone display  106 . 
     In some examples, the drone display design system  188  stores the designed drone display  106  in a display definition datastore  126  ahead of the drone display  106  being activated. In some examples, the drone display  106  is designed in real time as the drone display  106  is being used. The design of the drone display  106  may be stored in the example display definition datastore  126  using any number and/or type(s) of data structures on any number and/or type(s) of computer-readable storage device or memory. 
     To activate (e.g., fly, begin displaying content, start, etc.) the example drone display  106 , the example drone display system  100  includes an example flight system  128 . As described below in connection with  FIG. 3 , the example flight system  128  maps the content  124  (e.g., a movie, a replay, a live view of an event, etc.) onto the drone display  106  specified by the display definition  126 , and activates the drone display  106 . In some examples, the drone display  106  being activated by the flight system  128  has been pre-determined. In some examples, the drone display  106  is designed in real time by the drone display design system  188 , with the flight system  128  activating the drone display  106  substantially as the drone display design system  188  designs the drone display  106 . In some examples, the user  116  can control the activation of the drone display  106  via, for example, a user interface  302  ( FIG. 3 ). The content  124  may be stored using any number and/or type(s) of data structures on any number and/or type(s) of computer-readable storage device or memory. 
     While an example manner of implementing the example drone display system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example drone display design system  100  of  FIG. 1  may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and/or may include more than one of any or all the illustrated elements, processes and devices. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example implementation of the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 1 . To enable the user  116  to provide input(s)  120  representing the configuration of an audience, the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  includes an example audience configuration definer  204 . Via the user interface  202 , the example user  116  interacts with the audience configuration definer  204  to provide input(s)  120  that represent one or more configuration aspects (e.g., arrangement, positions, etc.) of the audience  122 , obstacles (e.g., trees, manmade structures), etc. Example inputs  120  include, but are not limited to, the number of rows of audience members  108  (e.g., three rows shown in  FIG. 1 ), the rows are arranged on an upwardly sloped audience stand  112 , the rows extending along a curved stadium  114 . The user  116  may, for example, also provide additional inputs  120  such as the angle of the sloped audience stand  112 , the radius of the curved stadium  114 , etc. Example inputs may, additionally, and/or alternatively, include design constraints and/or desired aspects of the drone display  106  such as shape (e.g., curved as shown in  FIG. 1 ), one-sided or more than one sides, viewing angle (e.g., an audience member  108  doesn&#39;t have to look upward by more than N feet, or M feet left or right), etc. In some examples, some or all the inputs  120  are selected from a plurality of options and/or examples (e.g., oval venue, two opposing audience stands, etc.) defined in a building blocks datastore  206 , and presented by the audience configuration definer  204  for consideration by the user  116 . In some examples, the building blocks datastore  206  includes lines (e.g., straight, curved, intersections, etc.) that the user  116  can combine via the user interface  202  to define an audience configuration. For example, to define an audience configuration for an urban demonstration, a festival, etc. that may have an irregular shape. In some examples, the user  116  may specify obstacles (e.g., trees, building structures, etc.). The building blocks  206  may be stored using any number and/or type(s) of data structures on any number and/or type(s) of computer-readable storage device or memory. 
     To design drone displays (e.g., the example drone display  106  of  FIG. 1 ), the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 1  includes an example drone display designer  108 . Based on the audience configuration inputs  120 , the example drone display designer  108  of  FIG. 2  determines the viewing angles V of the audience  122 . Additionally, and/or alternatively, in some examples, the user  116  specifies some or all the viewing angles V. 
     In some examples, the drone display designer  108  selects the shape and/or parameters of the drone display  106  from a set S of surface shapes  210  (e.g., planar, half-dome, sphere, curved, volumetric, etc.) most compatible with (e.g., best satisfies, provides the best coverage, etc.) the viewing angles V. For examples, the drone display designer  108  can use parameter optimization to identify the surface shape  210  and/or set of parameters (e.g., distance from audience, size, desired resolution, position, orientation, curvature, number of drones, etc.) that best fits the viewing angles V (e.g., maximizing the number of audience members  108  that can view the drone display  106  at a perpendicular angle). An example parameter optimization (e.g., find best solution) to design the drone display  106  can be expressed mathematically using the following minimization: 
     
       
         
           
             
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     Example cost functions C( ) include, but are not limited to deviation from a viewing angle of 90 degrees (C=0 for perpendicular, C&gt;0 for non-perpendicular, and C=∞ otherwise), surface coverage (how much of a shape is viewable by audience members  108 , user constraints, etc. In some examples, minimization (e.g., reduction) of X(V) can be solved for using optimization techniques using a stochastic gradient descent, the Euler-Lagrange differential equation, etc. The surfaces  210  may be stored using any number and/or type(s) of data structures on any number and/or type(s) of computer-readable storage device or memory. 
     Additionally, and/or alternatively, techniques from level set optimization and form finding of minimal networks using particle approximation can be applied to find a set of optimal anchors. The anchors can be used as projection geometries to select, and position pre-defined geometries can be used. 
     In some examples, machine learning is used to train a neural network to select drone display shape and/or parameters. 
     In some examples, the user  116  can, via the user interface  202 , change one or more of the drone display shape and/or parameters designed by the drone display designer  208 . In some examples, a good fit may not be found by the drone designer  208  in which case the user  116  may be presented with drone display shape options from which to select. 
     To map content onto the drone display shape and parameters, the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  includes an example content map definer  212 . In some examples, the user  116  via the user interface  202  selects a content mapping option. Example content mapping options include parameterization, projection mapping, slicing, etc. In an example of parameterization, mappings are known for many geometric shapes, can be approximated, and remain fixed for each drone, even during transformations. In an example of projection mapping, the mapping is like that used for projections onto buildings, screens, etc. However, projection is onto a virtual object that can deform and move, and which has not physical constraints. For example, cone-shape intersections may be used, using ray casting and closest point texture approximations. In some examples, physics-based particle simulation is used. In an example of slicing, a 2D projection surface is sliced through the drone display shape. In some examples, the slides are animated (e.g., a sequence that moves through a cube in layers as time advances). In some examples, the map(s) defined by the content map definer  212  is stored in a maps datastore  214  for subsequent recall. 
     An example benefit of drone displays is physical flexibility. Drone displays can move, rotate, change form, etc. Example scenarios include, a moving audience (e.g., screen following people), entertainment (e.g., moving screen from left to right for change of scenery), adjustment (e.g., four smaller screens targeted to different audience ranks coming together to form a bigger screen in the middle for half time), show element (drone display transitions from actual light show to media presentation screen), etc. 
     To incorporate drone display transforming (e.g., morphing, changing, etc.) the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  includes an example content transform definer  216 . The example content transform definer  216  of  FIG. 2  transforms content with a fixed parameterization (image stretches with drone display shape), dynamic interpolate parameterization (e.g., images adjusts to drone display shape), dynamic projection mapping and slicing. The content transformation can be optimized for different viewing angles V, can change in real time as drone display shape changes (e.g., adaptive geometry), can morph between different drone display designs, etc. 
     In the illustrated example of  FIG. 2 , the example audience configuration definer  204 , the example drone display designer  208 , the example content map definer  212 , and the example content transform definer  216  work, in turn, to define one or more drone display designs in the display definition datastore  126 . For example, if more than one drone displays are to be activated at a venue, multiple drone displays would be defined in the display definition datastore  126 . 
     While an example manner of implementing the drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in  FIG. 2  may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example audience configuration definer  204 , the example drone display designer  208 , the example content map definer  212 , the example content transform definer  216  and/or, more generally, the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example audience configuration definer  204 , the example drone display designer  208 , the example content map definer  212 , the example content transform definer  216  and/or, more generally, the example drone display design system  188  could be implemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuits, programmable processor(s), programmable controller(s), graphics processing unit(s) (GPU(s)), digital signal processor(s) (DSP(s)), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example audience configuration definer  204 , the example drone display designer  208 , the example content map definer  212 , the example content transform definer  216  and/or the example drone display design system  188  is/are hereby expressly defined to include a non-transitory computer-readable storage device or storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a compact disc (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. including the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and/or may include more than one of any or all the illustrated elements, processes and devices. As used herein, the phrase “in communication,” including variations thereof, encompasses direct communication and/or indirect communication through one or more intermediary components, and does not require direct physical (e.g., wired) communication and/or constant communication, but rather additionally includes selective communication at periodic intervals, scheduled intervals, aperiodic intervals, and/or one-time events. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an example implementation of the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 1 . To map the content  124 , the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 3  includes an example content mapper  302 . Based on a display definition  126 , the example content mapper  302  of  FIG. 3  maps the content  124  onto the drones  104  that form the drone display  106 . For example, the content mapper  302  maps portions of the content  124  onto respective drones  104  based on a content map defined by the example content map definer  212  as modified, when applicable, by the example content transform definer  216 . If more than one drone display  106  is to be used, the content mapper  302  of  FIG. 3  maps a first portion of the content  124  onto a first set of drones  104 , and a second portion of the content  124  onto a second set of drones  104 . 
     To program drones with their flight plan and content to display, the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 3  includes an example flight planner  304 . The example flight planner  304  of  FIG. 3  programs the drones  104  of the drone display  106  with the content determined by the content mapper  302  and their flight plan. The flight planner  304  programs the flight plans of the drones  104  based on the shape and/or parameters of the drone display  106 , as stored in the display definition datastore  126 . 
     To activate and fly a drone display, the example flight system  128  includes an example drone control interface  306 . The example drone control interface  306  of  FIG. 3  provides an interface for the flight planner  304  to send commands to the drones  104  to activate, control, fly, etc. the drones  104 . In some examples, the drone control interface  306  sends commands to the drones  104  via any type of flight controller  308 . The flight controller  308  communicates with the drones  104  via the cellular telephone tower  115 , a wireless access point (AP), a wireless hotspot, etc. In the illustrated example of  FIG. 3 , the flight controller  308  is part of the flight system  128 . In other examples, the flight controller  308  is separate from the flight system  128 . 
     In some examples, the user interface  302  enables the user  116  to control the configuration of content and flight plans onto the drones  104 , and/or to initiate the activation, control, flying, etc. of the drones  104 . In some examples, the drone display design system  188  and the example flight system  128  are implemented together. In some examples, the flight controller  308  is implemented together with the flight system  128 . 
     While an example manner of implementing the flight system  128  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example content mapper  302 , the example flight planner  304 , the example drone control interface  308 , the example flight controller  308  and/or, more generally, the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 3  may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example content mapper  302 , the example flight planner  304 , the example drone control interface  308 , the example flight controller  308  and/or, more generally, the example flight system  128  could be implemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuits, programmable processor(s), programmable controller(s), GPU(s), DSP(s), ASIC(s), PLD(s) and/or FPLD(s). When reading any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example content mapper  302 , the example flight planner  304 , the example drone control interface  308 , the example flight controller  308  and/or the example flight system  128  is/are hereby expressly defined to include a non-transitory computer-readable storage device or storage disk such as a memory, a DVD, a CD, a Blu-ray disk, etc. including the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 3  may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and/or may include more than one of any or all the illustrated elements, processes and devices. 
     A flowchart representative of example hardware logic or machine-readable instructions for implementing the drone display designer system  188  of  FIG. 2  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The machine-readable instructions may be a program or portion of a program for execution by a processor such as the processor  510  shown in the example processor platform  500  discussed below in connection with  FIG. 5 . The program may be embodied in software stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a floppy disk, a hard drive, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor  510 , but the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor  510  and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 4 , many other methods of implementing the example drone display designer system  188  may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. Additionally, and/or alternatively, any or all the blocks may be implemented by one or more hardware circuits (e.g., discrete and/or integrated analog and/or digital circuitry, an FPGA, an ASIC, a comparator, an operational-amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit, etc.) structured to perform the corresponding operation without executing software or firmware. 
     As mentioned above, the example processes of  FIG. 4  may be implemented using executable instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine-readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/or machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer-readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer-readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. 
     “Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation of any kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including” are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, and (6) B with C. 
     The program of  FIG. 4  begins at block  402 , where the audience configuration definer  204  receives inputs  120  from the user  116  defining the configuration of an audience (block  402 ). The drone display designer  208  optimizes the shape of the drone display  106  based on the configuration of the audience (block  404 ). The content map definer  212  determines the map from the content  124  to the drone display (block  406 ), and the content transform definer  216  defines any mapping transformations that are need (e.g., for example if a drone display is dynamic (block  408 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an example processor platform  500  structured to execute the instructions of  FIG. 4  to implement the drone display design system  188  of  FIG. 2  and the example flight system  128  of  FIG. 3 . The processor platform  500  can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, a workstation, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet such as an IPAD™), or any other type of computing device. 
     The processor platform  500  of the illustrated example includes a processor  510 . The processor  510  of the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the processor  510  can be implemented by one or more integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors, GPUs, DSPs, or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer. The hardware processor may be a semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) device. In this example, the processor implements the example audience configuration definer  204 , the example drone display designer  208 , the example content map definer  212 , the example content transform definer  216 , the example drone display design system  188 , the example content mapper  302 , the example flight planner  304 , the example drone control interface  308 , the example flight controller  308  and/or the example flight system  128 . 
     The processor  510  of the illustrated example includes a local memory  512  (e.g., a cache). The processor  510  of the illustrated example is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory  514  and a non-volatile memory  516  via a bus  518 . The volatile memory  514  may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random-Access Memory (RDRAM®) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory  516  may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory  514 ,  516  is controlled by a memory controller. 
     The processor platform  500  of the illustrated example also includes an interface circuit  520 . The interface circuit  520  may be implemented by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a Bluetooth® interface, a near field communication (NFC) interface, and/or a PCI express interface. In the illustrated example, the interface circuit  520  implements the example flight controller  308 . 
     In the illustrated example, one or more input devices  522  are connected to the interface circuit  520 . The input device(s)  522  permit(s) a user to enter data and/or commands into the processor  510 . The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system. 
     One or more output devices  524  are also connected to the interface circuit  520  of the illustrated example. The output devices  524  can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube display (CRT), an in-place switching (IPS) display, a touchscreen, etc.), a tactile output device, a printer and/or speaker. The interface circuit  520  of the illustrated example, thus, typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip and/or a graphics driver processor. 
     The interface circuit  520  of the illustrated example also includes a communication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, a modem, a residential gateway, a wireless access point, and/or a network interface to facilitate exchange of data with external machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network  526 . The communication can be via, for example, an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a telephone line connection, a coaxial cable system, a satellite system, a line-of-site wireless system, a cellular telephone system, etc. 
     The processor platform  500  of the illustrated example also includes one or more mass storage devices  528  for storing software and/or data. Examples of such mass storage devices  528  include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, CD drives, Blu-ray disk drives, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) systems, and DVD drives. 
     Coded instructions  532  including the coded instructions of  FIG. 4  may be stored in the mass storage device  528 , in the volatile memory  514 , in the non-volatile memory  516 , and/or on a removable non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD. 
     Example methods and apparatus to create drone displays are disclosed herein. Further examples and combinations thereof include at least the following. 
     Example 1 is a drone display system that includes: 
     an audience configuration definer to receive an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; and 
     a drone display designer to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input. 
     Example 2 is the drone display design system of Example 1, wherein the drone display designer is to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design the drone display using parameter optimization. 
     Example 3 is the drone display design system of Example 2, wherein using the parameter optimization includes at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 4 is the drone display design system of Example 1, wherein the drone display designer is to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design the drone display by identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 5 is the drone display design system of Example 1, wherein the drone display designer is to: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 6 is the drone display design system of Example 1, wherein the drone display designer is to: 
     receive a second input representing a change to the drone display; and 
     modify the drone display according to the second input. 
     Example 7 is the drone display design system of Example 1, wherein the drone display designer is to design the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and design a second drone display to present the content to a second portion of the audience based on the input. 
     Example 8 is the drone display design system of Example 1, further including: 
     a flight planner to allocate portions of the content to respective drones of the drone display; and 
     a flight controller to fly the drones to form the drone display, and to present the content on the drone display. 
     Example 9 is a method, comprising: 
     receiving an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; and 
     performing parameter optimization to design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input. 
     Example 10 is the method of Example 9, wherein performing the parameter optimization includes at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 11 is the method of Example 9, wherein designing the drone display including identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 12 is the method of Example 9, wherein designing the drone display includes: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 13 is the method of Example 9, wherein designing the drone display includes designing the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and designing a second drone display for a second portion of the audience. 
     Example 14 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to: 
     receive an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; 
     design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input; 
     allocate portions of the content to respective drones of the drone display; and 
     fly the drones to form the drone display, and to present the content on the drone display. 
     Example 15 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 14, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display using parameter optimization. 
     Example 16 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 15, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to perform the parameter optimization using at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 17 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 14, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display by identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 18 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 14, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 19 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 14, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and designing a second drone display for a second portion of the audience. 
     Example 20 is drone display design system, including: 
     an audience configuration definer to receive an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; and 
     a drone display designer to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input. 
     Example 21 is the drone display design system of Example 20, wherein the drone display designer is to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design the drone display using parameter optimization. 
     Example 22 is the drone display design system of Example 21, wherein using the parameter optimization includes at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 23 is the drone display design system of any of Examples 20 to 22, wherein the drone display designer is to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design the drone display by identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 24 is the drone display design system of any of Examples 20 to 23, wherein the drone display designer is to: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 25 is the drone display design system of any of Examples 20 to 24, wherein the drone display designer is to: 
     receive a second input representing a change to the drone display; and 
     modify the drone display according to the second input. 
     Example 26 is the drone display design system of any of Examples 20 to 25, wherein the drone display designer is to design the drone display for a first portion of the audience, design a second drone display to present the content to a second portion of the audience based on the input. 
     Example 27 is the drone display design system of any of Examples 20 to 26, further including: 
     a flight planner to allocate portions of the content to respective drones of the drone display; and 
     a flight controller to fly the drones to form the drone display, and to present the content on the drone display. 
     Example 28 is a method, including: 
     receiving an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; and 
     performing parameter optimization to design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input. 
     Example 29 is the method of Example 28, wherein performing the parameter optimization includes at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 30 is the method of Example 28 or Example 29, wherein designing the drone display including identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 31 is the method of any of Examples 28 to 30, wherein designing the drone display includes: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 32 is the method of any of Examples 28 to 31, wherein designing the drone display includes designing the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and designing a second drone display for a second portion of the audience. 
     Example 33 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computer processor to perform the method of any of Examples 28 to 32. 
     Example 34 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to: 
     receive an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; 
     design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input; 
     allocate portions of the content to respective drones of the drone display; and 
     fly the drones to form the drone display, and to present the content on the drone display. 
     Example 35 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 34, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display using parameter optimization. 
     Example 36 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of Example 35, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to perform the parameter optimization using at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 37 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of any of Examples 34 to 36, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display by identifying a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 38 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of any of Examples 34 to 37, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to: 
     identify two drone display options; and 
     receive a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 39 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of any of Examples 34 to 38, including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to design the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and designing a second drone display for a second portion of the audience. 
     Example 40 is a system, including: 
     a means for receiving an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user; and 
     a means for designing a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input. 
     Example 41 is the system of example 40, wherein the means for designing uses parameter optimization. 
     Example 42 is the system of example 41, wherein the parameter optimization includes at least one of a stochastic gradient descent, or the Euler-Lagrange differential equation. 
     Example 43 is system of any of Examples 40 to 42, wherein the means for designing identifies a geometry that increases a number of audience members viewing the drone display at a perpendicular angle to the drone display. 
     Example 44 is system of any of Examples 40 to 43, wherein the means for designing: 
     identifies two drone display options; and 
     receives a second input from the user selecting one of the two drone display options. 
     Example 45 is system of any of Examples 40 to 44, wherein the means for designing: 
     receives a second input representing a change to the drone display; and 
     modifies the drone display according to the second input. 
     Example 46 is system of any of Examples 40 to 45, wherein the means for designing designs the drone display for a first portion of the audience, and designs a second drone display to present the content to a second portion of the audience based on the input. 
     Example 47 is system of any of Examples 40 to 46, further including: 
     a means for allocating portions of the content to respective drones of the drone display; and 
     a means for flying the drones to form the drone display, and to present the content on the drone display. 
     Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.