Disco Patrol

Inspiration

Security systems are usually fixed cameras, while party lighting is mobile and interactive. We thought: what if a drone could do both? That led to Disco Patrol, a flying system that can patrol a space, detect people or intrusions, and respond with lights, sound, and live video.

What it does

Disco Patrol is a vision-guided drone that can operate in two modes. In party mode, it tracks people and creates interactive lighting and audio effects. In security mode, it patrols an area, detects intrusions or restricted-zone entry, and triggers visual/audio alerts while streaming live video to the operator.

How we built it

We designed the drone’s body using CAD and assembled the physical frame and internal components ourselves. Instead of relying on prebuilt systems, we developed our own flight controller using lgpio to control motor signals and achieve stable hovering. We integrated YOLO for real-time AI detection on a Raspberry Pi platform. In addition, we engineered our own custom battery pack and battery charger. A major component of the build involved implementing ESC communication and correctly managing the motor activation sequence, as documentation was limited. We also built a programmable LED system to support both disco lighting and red-alert modes, integrating all hardware and software into a single cohesive system.

Challenges we ran into

One of the most significant challenges was developing critical hardware components from scratch, particularly the battery system and charger. Creating a custom flight controller required precise motor signal control and careful tuning to maintain stable hover. ESC communication posed an additional difficulty due to limited documentation, forcing us to experiment extensively to correctly implement the activation sequence and motor control logic. Balancing real-time AI detection with flight stability and system performance also required optimization under time constraints.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are especially proud of achieving stable hover using a fully custom flight controller, successfully integrating real-time YOLO-based intruder detection, and implementing a responsive lighting system that clearly distinguishes safe and intrusion states. Designing our own hardware components including the battery system and controller and completing a functional AI-driven drone within a short time frame represents a major accomplishment for our team.

What we learned

This project demonstrated how much can be accomplished in a limited amount of time through focused teamwork and strong technical execution. We deepened our understanding of embedded systems, computer vision, motor control, power management, and full system integration. More importantly, we learned how to rapidly prototype complex hardware and software systems under pressure.

What's next for Disco Patrol

The next step for Disco Patrol is integrating a wireless speaker system that can connect to existing home audio platforms such as Bluetooth systems, Google Home, or Alexa-enabled setups. This would allow the drone to function as a mobile extension of a party’s sound system, bringing music to areas where fixed speakers cannot reach such as outdoor spaces or distant rooms. By combining adaptive lighting, AI-based monitoring, and mobile surround sound, Disco Patrol could evolve into a fully immersive, intelligent party and safety system.