Drone games set to become the next big tech craze

SMASHING drones out of the sky or playing futuristic games capturing enemy drones could become the latest hi-tech party craze.

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SMASHING drones out of the sky or playing futuristic games capturing enemy drones could become the latest hi-tech party craze.

Three Gosford High School graduates are working on programming drones to interact with one another through a series of games.

Tom Williams, 20, Travis Valenti, 19, and James Wright, 18, hope to sell their program to party companies in the hope their project will compete with the likes of laser tag or rock climbing as the next popular party event for boys over the age of 10.

The three former Gosford High students are working on an idea that could take off worldwide. Picture: Sue Graham

Envisage Software Solutions managing director Andrew Dean is supporting the trio through the Gosford Software Incubator program. Picture: Sue Graham

The trio are developing the software through the Gosford Software Incubator program, sponsored by West Gosford software development company Envisage Software Solutions.

Envisage Software Solutions managing director Andrew Dean said the aim of the program was to encourage young developers to create their own software application, and create employment opportunities on the Central Coast.

“The idea is to come up with a concept and see if we can commercialise it,” he said.

“The guys have developed this program where they can control drones via a games controller with data going back to a centralised computer which monitors the drones.

“They have come up with games including hitting drones out of the sky and follow the leader.”

Drone games could compete with laser tag for boys aged 10 and over.

Mr Dean said the concept was one that could “take off worldwide”.

“We have already had interest from party companies in Sydney and overseas,” he said.

As part of the program, Mr Dean provides mentoring as well as a free workspace for four days a week.

Mr Wright said the first hurdle of the project was to get the drones to talk to each other.

“We had to rewrite the code on drones and develop a drone application that is unique,” he said.

The team had an initial trial of the software at the Tumbi Umbi indoor sports centre last weekend, inviting family and friends to test the program.

They agreed it might not make their first million, but a few thousand dollars would be a good start.