The first drone soccer tournament in the U.S. takes off this weekend in Colorado Springs. Held as part of the Rocky Mountain State Games, it’s a big step forward for a high-tech team game that could overtake drone racing in popularity. Organizers hope it might also inspire a new generation of roboticists.
Drone racing went from nothing 10 years ago to being a regular on ESPN, with big prizes for top racers, and it is tipped by some to be ‘the next billion-dollar sport.’ But drone racing spectators are largely drawn from the same set as race fans, and for a non-enthusiast the sport may not be easy to follow. Drone soccer, by contrast, is audience-friendly and easy to follow across three action-packed three-minute sets.