A method for achieving zero, or near zero, latency timed pyrotechnic
events by utilizing distributed processing is presented. A list of timed
events may be used to synchronize a pyrotechnic firing sequence with
music or other external events. This list is distributed over a series of
embedded microprocessors. Each microprocessor is then synchronized to a
master controller clock, and enabled such that each processor may then
fire independently as required by the master list. This distributed
process removes the split-second timing requirement from the main
controller enabling the achievement of zero latency and providing
significantly more timing events to be processed simultaneously while
alleviating problems such as wireless radio interference delays. Each
module is capable of forwarding information to other modules, which may
be a position that prevents wireless communication directly with the
master controller.