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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."

7 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. 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

  2. Re:Disappointed by alexhs · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought from the name the thing was controlled by a parrot.

    Originally it was, but during the long beta the parrot ceased to be.

    No, no, he's uh,... he's resting!

    --
    I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of killer sig, which this margin is too narrow to contain.
  3. Not a Parrot? by crgrace · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was so disappointed when I learned this story wasn't about a parrot that had learned to control a helicopter using an iPod. Then he could get his own damn crackers.

  4. 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 BasilBrush · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That doesn't have computer assisted flight, nor video fed back to the controller.

  5. 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.

  6. 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