Press Release
May 6, 2019
Drone Interactive, winner of the Bpifrance Innovation Competition, is launching now ARCADRONE
A double reward for the Grenoble-based startup, Drone Interactive: the pioneer of interactive attractions blending drones and mixed reality. The startup won the Bpifrance Innovation Competition on February 20 which included a check for €320,000. The prize will help them move forward with marketing their flagship product—ARCADRONE—now a reality after signing their first pilot installation in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France).
One year after presenting at CES in Las Vegas, Drone Interactive is working twice as hard. This Grenoble-based gem is housed by the SATT Linksium incubator and is one of the winners of the second wave of Bpifrance's Innovation Competition within the Digital category for its innovative ARCADRONE—a fun attraction that combines drone piloting and mixed reality video games. The competition—publicly financed by the large investment plan managed by ADEME, Bpifrance, and FranceAgriMer—helps finance projects that are rich in innovation and have vast market prospective. As such, Drone Interactive was granted €320,000 in financial aid, proving the high potential of the ARCADRONE for amusement parks and FECs.
ARCADRONE, a unique attraction
ARCADRONE is a step towards the future and is the next generation of attractions for the entertainment and leisure industry. Thanks to unrivalled ergonomics and their high-performance anti-collision system, this startup has made drone flying accessible to all, while also offering immersive, interactive, and original games with each drone interacting with elements of the virtual world (background, bonus or characters). And to take the experience a step further, players are equipped with video headsets that immerse them in the mixed reality game—providing a fun, out-of-the-ordinary experience. Meanwhile, their actions are sent to and displayed on screens so that the public can also take part in the excitement.
Upcoming is a commercial demonstrator with the Altiplano Group
This innovation has not gone by unnoticed by the Altiplano Group, a company based in Lyon, France. The first French Group in indoor leisure activities—through its subsidiary Exalto—signed a contract with Drone Interactive at the end of January to install the ARCADRONE at its new 3,500m² park in Dardilly (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France). "During the Euro Attractions Show (EAS) last year, they were instantly drawn by our concept," highlights Vincent Rigau, Drone Interactive CEO. "We wanted to launch with a major player and Altiplano fully meets our expectations." This first installation will confirm ARCADRONE's functional operating conditions while also providing the startup with a real-life showroom. Operations are to start before summer.
Drone Interactive anticipates signing its first orders between now and the end of the year for an estimated revenue of €500,000. The startup is aiming for a turnover of €2.5 million for 2020 and will be present during the IAAPA Expo Europe 2019 show—formerly Euro Attractions Show—which will take place in Paris from September 16-19.
About Drone Interactive:
Founded on January 16, 2018 in Grenoble, France, the startup benefits from more than 15 years of R&D carried out in the GIPSA-lab laboratory—a joint laboratory unit managed by the CNRS, Grenoble-INP, and the University of Grenoble Alpes—to develop their fun, interactive, and immersive attractions. Housed in the SATT Linksium incubator from 2016 to 2018, Drone Interactive aims at becoming a recognized player in the amusement park industry thanks to its range of interactive attractions combining drones and mixed reality video games. Their concept has been given the two thumbs up by the public during CES 2018 in Las Vegas followed by market players during the last Euro Attractions Show. The startup is also a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
About the Altiplano Group:
Located on two continents (Europe and North America), the Lyon-based Altiplano Group is a predominant sector player in consulting (Altiplano Consulting), engineering leisure structures (Urban-Koncept) and operations (France Aventures, Exalto, Treetop Quest), for indoor and outdoor amusement parks.
Get more information:
Watch the video presenting ARCADRONE at EAS 2018: https://youtu.be/Yi3aA8XsbbQ
Watch Engadget’s video presentation of Drone Interactive at CES 2018: https://youtu.be/SnePitUCop8
Download the Bpifrance press release: https://www.bpifrance.fr/
Visit our website: www.drone-interactive.com
Visit the Exalto Park website: www.exalto-park.com
Follow us on Twitter: @DroneInteract
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/droneinteractive/
Drone Interactive (INTENT)
31, rue Gustave Eiffel, c/o SATT Linksium – 38000 Grenoble (France)
Press Contact:
Vincent Rigau – CEO Drone Interactive
vincent.rigau@drone-interactive.com