prostheticknowledge:

Spherical Drone Display

Proof of concept project from NTT Docomo is a spherical display that can also fly:

The device comprises a spherical external frame, an internal LED
frame consisting of a series of eight curved LED strips that extend from
top to bottom, a drone fitted inside the sphere and legs protruding
underneath. During flight, the LED frame spins on its axis in a rapid
horizontal motion, forming an afterimage effect to create the illusion
of a solid sphere of motionless LEDs. The highly maneuverable drone can
be operated virtually anywhere, including venues such as concert halls
or arenas where it can fly around as part of a performance or deliver
advertising messages, event information, etc.

The maximum diameter of the spherical frame is about 88 cm and the
entire device, including the drone, weighs just 3.4 kg. The display
measures 144 pixels high and 136 pixels wide (horizontal circumference).

Equipping a drone with a spherical display had proved difficult until
now due to challenges such as the display interfering with the airflow
of the drone’s propellers as well as the added weight of the display.
However, DOCOMO’s solution uses a largely hollow display that is
exceptionally lightweight and allows air to flow through it, yet it
still achieves the illusion of a solid display by creating an afterimage
effect with rapidly spinning LEDs.

You can find out more here

To see it in action, you can see a video at the
Asahi Shimbun here

[h/t = @kimpimmel ]