The Parrot AR Drone

kLast week I saw the Parrot AR Drone in action at CES. I mentioned it in one of my posts last weej.

In fact, this little thing always had people around it, wanting to play with it, and Parrot took it to all the after CES parties for the Press and Bloggers, but also had a number of different areas in CES where people could see it and even have a go.

Here’s what Parrot have to say about the AR Drone:

Parrot, leader in wireless products for mobile phones, is unveiling the first quadricopter using augmented reality: Parrot AR.Drone.

With intuitive mobility and universal use, Parrot AR.Drone is piloted initially with an iPhone™ or iPod touch® and allows you to take a spectacular flying journey. In addition to the pleasure of flying, this unique quadricopter can be part of a large number of video games in the real world.

Streaming video on the iPhone™ or iPod touch® screen enables you to pilot the AR.Drone as if you were sitting in the pilot’s seat; the image processing allows for the integration of real-time special effects of augmented reality…

An unseen mix of captors (wide angle camera and high speed camera, MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanicals Systems), 3 axes accelerometer, 3 axes gyro, ultrasound sensor) associated with a powerful computer makes the piloting easy and accessible even for the youngest or non-technologically savvy person.

Thanks to the accelerometer of the iPhone™ or iPod touch® that detects users’ movements, the AR.Drone is very easy to pilot by leaning the iPhone™ forward to move forward or sidewise to corner and change direction.

On the touch pad of the iPhone™, command buttons also indicate some actions such as rise, down, rotate, move back, move forward… Observing the AR.Drone obey each movement of their hands is an incredible experience for the player.

Parrot AR.Drone: imagination has no limits

Parrot AR.Drone is designed for flying inside and outside.

For flying inside, a hull surrounds the propellers and protects the quadricopter if it hits an obstacle. For outside flights, a shaped hull reduces the area to the wind for better maneuverability of the quadricopter.

Every flight with the AR.Drone will always be a new experience. Outside, the user will have to take into account the changing elements of the real environment, such as the wind, the sunshine, shadowed areas or any obstacles that appear.

Parrot AR.Drone is also offering an unprecedented multi-player possibility.

Thanks to augmented reality, it is possible to recreate an aerial fight between two quadricopters. The worlds of video gaming and radio controlled models collaborate for the first time, simultaneously evolving in both universes.

Developers can sign up for the SDK here http://www.ardrone.org.

Pricing and availability have yet to be formalised, but all I can say is this thing is very cool, and everyone who saw it at CES wants one.

Take a look at this video I took, I particularly like the last few seconds 🙂 Although have to say it really took a beating and was flying a few seconds later – now that’s cool!