New Parrot Drone QuadCopter with Smart Phone control features

This is a second-generation mobile-controlled AR.Drone 2.0, which has upgraded hardware and software for enhanced control. It is loaded with a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis magnetometer and an array of new sensor to give it increased stability in flight.

The unit has a 720p front-facing camera, which allows users to capture flight activity in HD, and like the Helo TC we discussed last month, this drone is also controlled by a Smart Phone.

The drone’s “absolute flight” mode will allow users to steer the device with a single tilt of a Smart Phone or Tablet. For a more traditional experience Parrot has designed an Android and iOS app, which can also be used to share flight data with friends.

Now here is why I am so excited; Parrot has provided developers of the Apple and Android communities with a software development kit that would allow for more apps and games accessible to the AR.Drone 2.0. This means we are getting closer to my predictions of true consumer deployable micro-robotics. It appears that such technologies might be poised to merge with mind control apparatus such as the EmoLogic headset controllers. Imagine a thought controlled mini robotic drone! Oh how the micro-world of robotics is poised to change rapidly in 2012 and beyond. These are truly exciting times we live in. I wish I were 20 years old again so that I could live another 50 years to see teleportation and time travel become a reality!

From the LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2012 PRNewswire on COMTEX, we learn the following,

“While in flight, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0′s front camera transmits real-time what the quadricopter sees onto the pilot’s device screen. For the first time the AR.Drone 2.0 camera, with a 1280×720 resolution, shows a view from the sky in high definition with smooth and unbelievable images. The pilot enjoys an experience like never before, as if he was on board. For gaming purposes, this camera also can recognize specific shapes and colors to show augmented-reality elements on the smartphone’s screen. Thanks to the new AR.FreeFlight 2.0 piloting application, players can record their own HD videos and watch them or share them with the AR.Drone community.

Additionally, with the “travelling” feature, the pilot can film HD video sequences like a professional! Simply select the direction of travel (forward, back, sideways) and the duration, and the AR.Drone 2.0 does the rest. In addition to flying the AR.Drone, new application AR.FreeFlight 2.0 – available to download for free from the AppStore(SM) and Android(TM) Market – offers players a new interface and several options.

FreeFlight: Access to the piloting application. The pilot can record flights, take HD videos or photos and save them in the piloting device. All the flight data (altitude, speed, duration and place) can be saved, checked by the pilot and shared with the community. Guest Space: Access an overview of the AR.Drone 2.0, the best flight videos and practical information. Drone Update: Access the AR.Drone 2.0′s free software updates. AR.Drone Academy: Get geolocation data of the best flight zones, watch other pilots’ videos and access their shared flight data. AR.Games: Access applications/games available for the AR.Drone. Photos/Videos: Directly access your own videos and photos. Watch or upload to YouTube for the community to enjoy. After the AR.FreeFlight 2.0 pilot application has been loaded onto an iOS or AndroidTM smartphone or tablet, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 connects to the device via Wi-Fi. After connection, all the on-board instruments appear on screen with a cockpit view. Press the take off button briefly and the four brushless motors turn on. The AR.Drone 2.0 takes off. Flying is very simple. With your thumbs placed on either side of the screen, a control button automatically forms beneath: Press and hold the left button and the AR.Drone 2.0 follows the movement of the pilot’s device: it moves forward, backwards or sideways when you tilt the tablet forward, towards you or to the left or right. Slide your finger over the right button, and the quadricopter rises, descends or rotates right or left. Thanks to Parrot’s patented new ‘Absolute Control’ mode, the player accesses an even more intuitive piloting system. With a 3D magnetometer, the AR.Drone 2.0 knows its precise orientation with respect to the smartphone, which becomes the reference point. The pilot no longer needs to care about the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0′s front camera, which will accurately track the smartphone’s motion and tilt. Experienced players will select ‘Relative Flight’ mode, the conventional flight mode. This disables Parrot AR.Drone 2.0′s magnetometer. The pilot manages the quadricopter’s orientation with no assistance.

The heart of the AR.Drone 2.0 contains MEMS (microelectromechanical systems). A 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis magnetometer and a pressure sensor give the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 surprising stability, complete with: 2 ultrasound sensors, which analyze flight altitude up to 6 meters. New! A pressure sensor completes the device and provides great vertical stability. 4 blades, specially designed for the AR.Drone 2.0, make it possible to carry out smooth flights. A second camera, placed beneath the quadricopter and connected to the central inertial unit, measures the craft’s speed using an image comparison system. 2 hulls made for both types of flight.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 has 2 hulls with specially designed contours. Made of EPP (a material used in designing car bumpers), they are light, highly resistant and protect the quadricopter. For outdoor flight, the contoured hull, available in three colors (orange/yellow; orange/green; orange/blue), reduces wind resistance and preserves the AR.Drone 2.0′s handling and stability. When indoor, a second hull protects the blades from any impact. The black-and-white cockpit, underlined with a red stripe, reinforces the quadricopter’s mysterious, thrilling appearance.

Finally, light-emitting diodes (green in front, red in rear), positioned on the landing gear, help the pilot track the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0 for easier flying. In order to expand the use of the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 and its compatibility with other operating systems and to develop new flying games and applications, Parrot is providing developers and members of the Apple® and Android(TM) communities with a software development kit. By logging in at https://projects.ardrone.org and accepting the terms of the license, developers can access the source code used to fly the AR.Drone 2.0. A wiki and a tutorial also are available. A forum is available to discuss new developments and share feedback with Parrot engineers. The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 will be available for purchase at selected retailers in Q2-2012 in the United States for $299 MSRP”

Let me know if you are as excited as I am about this technology.