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Parrot AR.Drone Wi-Fi Quadricopter for iPhone --- too cool

Actually, this does use some technologies that were tested/used first by the military, AFAIK. So do microwave ovens.

As for the Wifi stuff, the drone acts as a standalone Wifi network, to which you connect with your iPhone/iPod touch. It's not an ad-hoc connection, it's an infrastructure one, but involving only the drone and your device.

I didn't have the occasion to play with it this week-end (attending a relative's wedding), but next week-end will be devoted to it :)

I just have to find someone else here in Paris to play one-to-one augmented reality combat :)
 
Hi all,

I REALLY want one of these!

I'm visiting the US from the 30th August to 10th September. The price is substantially better over there that here in the UK. Are these things gonna be readily available in shops so I can save myself money?

If so, where shall I buy from?

Tom
 
This has to be really hard to control using a touch screen. Its hard enough to fly these things using a proper controller.. forget about a touch screen. Your going to have to constantly be looking at the screen.

Sure its cool but not so cool when it crashes onto the side of your house.
 
@tombarnes: They say it will ship in the US in September, but not exactly when. See http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/where-to-buy/

@Caraj: it's very simple. You change the altitude and revolve using swipe gestures on the right side of the screen. As long as you're touching the left side, you can move the drone by tilting the iPhone; it's controlled by the accelerometer. No need to look at the screen, except if it's out of sight, or if you're playing one of the augmented reality games that add special effects on the image (lasers, foes and other stuff, haven't tried yet).
 
Okay, either this thing is rock solid or I'm a lucky guy. Last saturday, I crashed it in a tree branches; it fell from about 5 meters. Still works. Then I crashed it in a statue. The kind made out of rock. Not a scratch.

Needless to say, this wasn't intended; I need to find an area with less obstacles, and an actual flat surface to calibrate it :)
 
Buy it from Amazon if you do

I purchased the AR.Drone by Parrot from Brookstone and it was delivered yesterday. I opened the box, read the manual, charged the battery and then gave the AR.Drone a 10 minute test flight. I thought it was a cool gizmo but didn't warrant the cost so I decided to return the item. This is when the problems started. I had purchased the AR.Drone on my iPhone from the Brookstone website where there is no disclaimer that open items cannot be returned to the Brookstone store so I didn't think this would be any different than any other item purchased from Brookstone and took it in to return. This is when they told me that they would not accept open boxed AR.Drone returns and that I had to contact Parrot to get a refund and provided me with the following information to return the item.

# RETURNS AND WARRANTY:
# Unopened and unused AR.Drones can be returned to Brookstone in accordance with Brookstone’s normal return policy which can be found in Brookstone stores, at www.brookstone.com, or on the reverse of your sales receipt or shipping collate.
# Any returns of opened, damaged, or used AR.Drones must be handled directly through Parrot. Please call Parrot directly at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) for full details. Parrot’s return policy is as follows:
You must follow this return procedure:
1. You must call Parrot customer service at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) with serial number and proof of purchase.
2. All opened, damaged, or used product are to be returned directly to Parrot for replacement or repair.
3. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the AR.Drone back to Parrot (at the address specified after calling Parrot at 1-877-9PARROT

I contacted Parrot at the above mentioned number that Brookstone provided me with and I was told that Parrot does not handle refunds of the AR.Drone and that I would have to contact Brookstone to get a refund. So I went back to the Brookstone store and called the same number with the Brookstone manager on the phone so I could get her and Parrot on the phone at the same time. They both said the other was responsible for the refund. They both are trying to contact their upper management to see who is responsible for this refund while me the customer is stuck with a very poor customer service experience.

My advice is to order the AR.Drone from Amazon just in case you change your mind Amazon will take the return within 30 days with no questions asked. I should have waited and ordered from Amazon.

I am documenting this process at http://ardrone-parrot.blogspot.com/
 
It's cool

I just picked one up on Labor day (9/6/10) at the Beverly Center, Los Angeles. Flew it last night outside. This thing is very cool. Very easy to fly.
 
Finally had my first shake down flight this morning.

Pairing was very easy to do. Once the AR Drone is powered up, it transmits a wi-fi signal with the SSID, "ardrone_parrot". Simply selected it like any other SSID in the Wi-Fi Network settings on my iPhone.

Launched the AR Drone App on my iPhone and after it checked for software updates, the front view camera and controls came up on my screen.

The controls on the screen

- The bottom center is the Take Off/Land button

- The lower right is a stick that controls Yaw & Altitude

- The lower left is a button that activates the accelerometer controls for Pitch

- The upper left you have Settings and just below that the Camera Toggle button

- The upper center is the Emergency button. Press this while in flight, power to all four motors will be cut and the drone will simply fall to the ground.

This thing was relatively easy to fly but it helped to have a big indoor open space for my first flight. Also I noticed that altitude control is more consistent over hard level surfaces.

IMPORTANT 1st STEPS!!!
IMPORTANT 1st STEPS!!!
IMPORTANT 1st STEPS!!!

- Make sure that the AR.Drone is settled on a flat surface.

- In App, go to settings and press Flat trim. Select the hull that is currently installed on the AR.Drone and then the type of flight that you
wish to make. Press OK.

To start Fun, press Take Off button =D

The Drone ascended and hovered in place.

Right off the ground the best way to control the drone for the first time was to use the Pitch Controls. Pressed the Pitch button and tilted my iPhone forward, the drone pitched and flew forward. Tilted back, the drone flew back. And any combination in between, the drone pitched and flew in that direction.

Altitude & Yaw is control by the stick. Pushed the stick forward, the drone ascended. Back, the drone descended. Pushed the stick left, the drone yawed or spun left. Right, the drone yawed right. And any combination in between.

It started to get very "Rub your tummy and pat your head" when I used the Pitch, Altitude & Yaw controls at the same time. With no well defined front, back or sides, I quickly lost my X Y Z and end up crashing. So if you do lose orientation, just simply take your thumbs off of the controls. The drone will self correct and hover in place.

I tried navigating via the on board camera, but I found it less responsive controlling in the 1st person perspective compared to the 3rd. But the one advantage in 1st person, you don't get your X Y Z crossed up.

Landing was just as easy as Take Off. I just took my thumbs off the controls to hover in place and pressed the Take Off/Land button. The Drone slowly descended to the floor.

My play time lasts for about 15mins. Yeah, sucks!!! So it maybe a worth while investment to get a second battery.

All in all, VERY COOL TOY!!! =D
 
NOW THAT'S AWESOME!!!!:D

I will get one after they make a revision which improves Battery Life.

I can think of many ways this may prove useful:cool:
 
ARDroneGuy said:
I purchased the AR.Drone by Parrot from Brookstone and it was delivered yesterday. I opened the box, read the manual, charged the battery and then gave the AR.Drone a 10 minute test flight. I thought it was a cool gizmo but didn't warrant the cost so I decided to return the item. This is when the problems started. I had purchased the AR.Drone on my iPhone from the Brookstone website where there is no disclaimer that open items cannot be returned to the Brookstone store so I didn't think this would be any different than any other item purchased from Brookstone and took it in to return. This is when they told me that they would not accept open boxed AR.Drone returns and that I had to contact Parrot to get a refund and provided me with the following information to return the item.

# RETURNS AND WARRANTY:
# Unopened and unused AR.Drones can be returned to Brookstone in accordance with Brookstone’s normal return policy which can be found in Brookstone stores, at www.brookstone.com, or on the reverse of your sales receipt or shipping collate.
# Any returns of opened, damaged, or used AR.Drones must be handled directly through Parrot. Please call Parrot directly at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) for full details. Parrot’s return policy is as follows:
You must follow this return procedure:
1. You must call Parrot customer service at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) with serial number and proof of purchase.
2. All opened, damaged, or used product are to be returned directly to Parrot for replacement or repair.
3. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the AR.Drone back to Parrot (at the address specified after calling Parrot at 1-877-9PARROT

I contacted Parrot at the above mentioned number that Brookstone provided me with and I was told that Parrot does not handle refunds of the AR.Drone and that I would have to contact Brookstone to get a refund. So I went back to the Brookstone store and called the same number with the Brookstone manager on the phone so I could get her and Parrot on the phone at the same time. They both said the other was responsible for the refund. They both are trying to contact their upper management to see who is responsible for this refund while me the customer is stuck with a very poor customer service experience.

My advice is to order the AR.Drone from Amazon just in case you change your mind Amazon will take the return within 30 days with no questions asked. I should have waited and ordered from Amazon.

I am documenting this process at http://ardrone-parrot.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

This all sounds like an Amazon employee spruiking where to buy...
 
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