Verge Aero earns lofty praise and Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell

Three engineers who met at Rowan University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering wowed judges Monday night with their proprietary drone swarm technology on NBC’s season premiere of America’s Got Talent: Extreme. The 2022 series showcases more than 30 acts from around the world. 

Verge Aero (Tony Samaritano '12, M'18, Anthony Merlino '14, and Chris Franzwa '13, and their collaborator, Nils Thorjussen) told the national television audience about the engineers’ early days at Rowan University, where they spent long hours experimenting with drones. 

“What really brought us together was a passion for drone technology,” said Franzwa. “We’re drone nerds.”   

Then they launched a highly technical light show 30 stories high above the show’s judges and a live audience. Watch the America’s Got Talent clip. 

Their drones flew in undulating 3D patterns of light: a rainbow wave, swirls and stars, and then a map of the United States that transformed into the show’s logo. 

“I think drones are some of the most annoying things on the planet—until now,” said executive producer and judge Simon Cowell, before giving Verge Aero his highest praise, a Golden Buzzer. He later came up on stage to speak face-to-face with the four men. 

“That was incredible,” Cowell said. “So great, so brilliant … I mean, amazing.” 

Cowell’s approval means Verge Aero will appear on the show’s finale, where the team will compete against six other winners for a $500,000 grand prize and the ultimate title, the champion of America’s Got Talent: Extreme. Unlike earlier seasons, voting in this four-week competition is not open to the public. The final vote will be determined by a select group of “superfans” from around the country. 

The series airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC. 

To learn more about Verge Aero, read Rowan Today.