It felt like it was only a matter of time before increasingly popular drones were used to race, and now the first official drone-racing event has taken place.
The first race took place in the Miami Lights stadium in February, after potential racers competed in a qualifying event in July 2015. Daring drone pilots must navigate a series of obstacles, whizzing through the air throughout the stadium and trying not to crash into the hazards or each other.
Each drone is fitted with a camera which captures stunning footage of the race and beams back images to the virtual reality glasses worn by each racer. The event bears a vague similarity to the pod racing seen in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and makes for an exciting spectator sport.
You can now watch the video highlights from the first race online, and plenty more are set to come as part of the Drone Racing League. Drones have become a common part of everyday life, and there are plenty of people willing to bet money they will also afford the world a newly successful sport.
The next event will take place in Los Angeles in March, and organizers are planning a raft of other competitions in 2016, thanks to $8 million in funding raised from investors.
Investors in the Drone Racing League include Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and New York-based venture capital firm Lere Hippeau Ventures. Watch the videos online if you want to check out the world’s newest sport.
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