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Parrot iPod-Controlled Quadricopter Launches This Week

Posted by timothy on from the amazing-fun dept.

MojoKid writes "Remote-controlled helicopters are not new, but Parrot's AR.Drone Quadricopter is set to make a splash when it goes on sale on Sept. 9th. It will use an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad as a controller, and give a live video feed from two different cameras to the pilot. Each model comes with two hulls, one of them for indoor use, with protective loops around the rotors. The device creates its own Wi-Fi network, which the iOS device connects to in order to control the Quadricopter."

8 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. August 18th in Germany by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Sold for 300 EUR by Saturn in Germany since August 18th:

    http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/iPhone-Flugdrohne-im-Handel-erhaeltlich-1060823.html

    ARM9-Processor (468 MHz)
    400g total weight
    up to 12 minutes in the air
    up to 18km/h

  2. Unsuitable for outdoor use in wind by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    These are apparently better for use indoors as they can't tolerate much wind. Chris Anderson from DIYdrones (and WIRED), has reviewed them

    http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/review-of-the-production

  3. Not for children! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Note that these quadcopters are quite dangerous. The brushless motors turn the propellers into saw blades. Youtube is full of videos showing deep cuts from even small RC planes with puny motors. If you fly this thing into a person, fun's over.

  4. Re:Review by halfaperson · · Score: 2, Informative
    From the same review:

    We should also mention that the control software for the AR.Drone is Open Source; while it only currently runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch, versions for Android and other devices should be forthcoming.

    --
    Jesus had a UNIX beard.
  5. oh where have I seen this before by FuckingNickName · · Score: 3, Informative

    To whom it may concern:

    Shame this stuff is never covered when it's done by true homebrewing geeks.

    Sincerely,

    Dongcopters.

    1. Re:oh where have I seen this before by FuckingNickName · · Score: 2, Informative

      He's experimented with fully autonomous flight with realtime data transfer, but only for RC planes IIRC. Maybe you want to look at Arducopter/Aeroquad.

  6. Re:My God! by BasilBrush · · Score: 3, Informative

    No, it says iPod in the title, not iPad. Who can't read?

    Neither did you understand that the iPod touch, iPad or iPhone displays video taken from the drone, streams it over WiFi, and displays it on the screen. Technology that you cannot put together for $5. Imbecile.

  7. Limitations in Android by feranick · · Score: 4, Informative

    Android's version is ready. There is a problem however with Android not officially allowing ad hoc connections (which are used to connect to the drone), hence a stock android phone cannot be used. A rooted version does, however. More here: https://projects.ardrone.org/boards/1/topics/show/452