A STUDY INTO 21ST CENTURY DRONE ACOUSTICS, 2015

Much of the discussion around unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is directed towards its capabilities of surveillance and attack. Less known, is that for those living in areas of conflict, the engine sound of the drones has devastating psychological effects. Military drones fly at high altitudes and are more easily heard than seen. Even the origin of the word ‘drone’ is rooted in sound and comes from the sound of the male honeybee. The sound of drones in areas of conflict create soundscapes of terror that can go on for many hours. The buzzing of the engines have generated nicknames like ‘zanana’ in Palestine, and ‘bangana’ in Pakistan.

A Study into 21st Century Drone Acoustics is an auditive investigation by composer Gonçalo F. Cardoso (Discrepant records) and designer Ruben Pater (Drone Survival Guide). What kind of engines are drones equipped with? What do they sound like? What are the psychological effects of the sounds in areas of conflict? The sound installation in Artefact is based on field recordings of 17 drone types, ranging from small consumer drones to large military drones. 

More info about Drone Accoustics

 
Ruben Pater (NL)
°1977, Gouda

Under the name Untold Stories, Dutch graphic designer Ruben Pater creates visual narratives about geopolitical issues. He initiates projects in which research is followed by visual ways of storytelling for a wide audience, creating new relations between journalism and design. Ruben Pater finished the master programme of design at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam, and teaches at the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague.