Parrot AR.Drone Quadcopter Review and Setup Guide

The Parrot AR.Drone Quadcopter is a unique and exciting device that combines a remote-controlled quadcopter with a camera and a smartphone app. The AR.Drone weighs 440 grams and measures 13 inches in diameter.

The AR.Drone is controlled via a smartphone app, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. The app allows you to control the quadcopter's movements, adjust the camera's view, and track your flights.

To set up the AR.Drone, you'll need to insert the battery, connect the quadcopter to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, and download the app. The app will guide you through the setup process, which is relatively straightforward.

The AR.Drone comes with a rechargeable battery that provides up to 12 minutes of flight time.

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The AR Drone is an affordable, yet surprisingly capable quadcopter that can be controlled via WiFi using the official FreeFlight mobile app available for iOS and Android.

You can download the app and start flying your drone in no time, and it's also a great starting point for developers who want to create their own games and apps for the drone.

The client protocol is open, and Parrot publishes an SDK that includes a good amount of documentation and C code, making it easy for mobile developers to get started.

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When you first open the box, you'll find the AR.Drone with two hulls, one indoor and one outdoor.

The AR.Drone 2.0 is made from a highly durable foam that wraps the core mechanics.

You get one battery and one charger in the basic package.

The blades are plastic, and the whole vehicle is surprisingly light.

For $299, you can get the AR.Drone with all these essentials, but I strongly suggest you opt for the $329 package, which comes with an extra battery.

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The AR Drone is a surprisingly capable quadcopter that's also very affordable.

You can control the drone using the official FreeFlight mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.

The drone itself runs a proprietary firmware, but don't worry if you're not a tech expert - it's easy to use.

To create custom games and apps for your drone, you can use the client protocol, which is open and published by Parrot.

You'll need to sign up to download the SDK, but it comes with a good amount of documentation and C code to help you get started.

With the SDK, you can create all sorts of fun apps and games for your drone, and even receive video and sensor data to enable autonomous programs.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 has a robust set of hardware features that make it a capable and reliable drone.

The drone's weight is between 380g with the outdoor hull and 420g with the indoor hull, which is a significant consideration for pilots who plan to fly in different environments.

The AR.Drone 2.0 is powered by four brushless motors, each with a 14.5-watt rating and a speed of 28,500 RPM. This provides the drone with a good balance of power and efficiency.

Here are the drone's key hardware specs:

The battery life of the AR.Drone 2.0 is a major concern, getting only 15 minutes of flight time from a single battery.

You'll need a second battery, and considering the high power consumption of the four rotating blades, a third may not be a bad idea either.

The batteries can be swapped in and out quickly, and the wall charger replenishes them within an hour.

Upgrading the battery can significantly increase flight time, with the Cheerwing 1800 mAh 11.1V 20C Li-Po Upgrade Battery providing around 20 minutes of flight time.

The Parrot AR 2.0 comes with a 1500 mAh Lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery, and upgrading to a high density battery like the 1500 AH Lipo Battery can also provide longer flight times.

With the upgraded battery, you can enjoy more flying time and a better overall experience.

Piloting the AR.Drone is like riding a bicycle - it's not easy at first, but after a few sessions, you notice a marked improvement.

Crashing is part of the learning process, but the drone holds up well to the abuse, so don't worry if you're a bit rough on it.

Flying over a grassy field is a good idea, as it's softer than hard surfaces if you do happen to crash.

A stronger base can make a big difference in protecting your drone from damage.

The Parrot AR drone 2.0 has a crash-resistant feature with a stronger base plate made of Carbon Fiber.

This Carbon Fiber base is easy to install and fits perfectly on both the Parrot AR drone 2.0 and the Power edition.

By installing a Carbon Fiber base, you can effectively reduce gear damage from a crash.

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Version 1.0 of the Parrot AR.Drone was unveiled at the International CES 2010 in Las Vegas.

The AR.Drone's airframe is constructed from nylon and carbon fiber parts, making it lightweight, and measures 57 cm (22 in) across. This unique design allows for a range of 6 degrees of freedom, with a miniaturized inertial measurement unit tracking the pitch, roll, and yaw for use in stabilization.

The AR.Drone comes with two interchangeable hulls, one designed for indoor and one for outdoor flight. The indoor hull is made from EPPfoam, which encases the circumference of the blades for protection.

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The onboard computer runs a Linux operating system, and communicates with the pilot through a self-generated Wi-Fi hotspot. This allows for a seamless and efficient connection.

The rotors are powered by 15-watt, brushless motors powered by an 11.1 Volt lithium polymer battery. This provides approximately 12 minutes of flight time at a speed of 5 m/s (11 mph).

The AR.Drone 2.0 was unveiled at CES Las Vegas 2012, with significant upgrades to its functionality.

The camera quality was increased to 720p, allowing for crisp and clear video.

The onboard sensors were also made more sensitive, giving pilots greater control over the drone.

The ultrasound altimeter was enhanced with the addition of an air pressure sensor, enabling more stable flight and hovering.

The resources available to the onboard computer were improved, and the Wi-Fi hardware was updated to follow the new 802.11n standard.

Here are the key specs of the AR.Drone 2.0:

If you're having trouble getting your Parrot AR.Drone up and running, don't worry, we've got you covered. The AR Drone will not connect to a smartphone or tablet via WiFi.

First, check that your drone is properly paired with the controller, as a faulty connection can cause connectivity issues. Make sure the drone is in range of the controller and that the controller is turned on.

The AR Drone will not connect to a smartphone or tablet via WiFi. This is a known limitation of the device.

If you're trying to connect your AR Drone to a smartphone or tablet, don't expect it to work. The AR Drone is designed to be a standalone device.

This can be frustrating, especially if you're used to using your smartphone or tablet to control other devices. But it's just the way the AR Drone is designed.

The AR Drone's inability to connect to a smartphone or tablet is a deliberate design choice, not a bug.

The lights on your AR Drone illuminate in red initially, then it wiggles each propeller to check motor response and levelness. If all self-checks pass, the lights turn green.

If the lights don't turn green, it's likely due to the drone not being level. Make sure it's sitting on a level surface.

Try calibrating the drone by going into the settings on your smartphone or tablet and selecting the "Calibrate" option. This should get the drone ready for flight.

The magnetometer can only be calibrated while the drone is flying, and the calibration routine causes the drone to yaw in place a full 360 degrees. Be cautious and only calibrate on a flat surface.

FTRIM essentially resets the Yaw, Pitch, and Roll to 0. Use this function with care, especially while flying.

If you're looking to upgrade your Parrot AR.Drone experience, you've come to the right place. The Parrot AR.Drone has a range of software and mods available to enhance its capabilities.

You can find various components and accessories for your quadcopter on our Parrot AR Drone 2.0 parts, upgrades and accessories page. This is a great resource to explore if you're looking to customize your drone.

The 5 Top Parrot AR Drone Mods are a great starting point for anyone looking to take their AR.Drone to the next level.

The UdpControl module is a low-level API that allows you to control the Parrot AR.Drone by sending UDP packets on port 5556. This requires repeatedly sending instructions with an incrementing sequence number to ensure reliability.

The drone is controlled by sending UDP packets, but UDP doesn't guarantee message ordering or delivery, so clients must be designed to handle this. The UdpControl class is provided to make this task easier.

To take off or land the drone, you can use the REF command with a sequence number of 1 and a parameter of 512 for takeoff. The command looks like this: AT*REF,1,512.

The UdpControl class exposes an easy-to-use interface for enqueuing commands. For example, you can use the udpControl.ref() method to initiate takeoff or landing.

Here's a breakdown of the options available for the udpControl.ref() method:

Once you've enqueued your commands, you can send them to the drone using the udpControl.flush() method. This sends all enqueued commands as an UDP packet to the drone.

If you need more control over the drone's movements, you can use the udpControl.pcmd() method, which allows you to specify the speed and direction of the drone's movements. For example, you can fly the drone towards the front camera direction by setting the front option to 1.

Here's a breakdown of the options available for the udpControl.pcmd() method:

You can also use the arDrone.createUdpControl() method to create a new UdpControl instance, which allows you to specify the drone's IP address and port. The default IP address is '192.168.1.1' and the default port is 5556.

If you need to send a raw AT* command to the drone, you can use the udpControl.raw() method, which allows you to specify the command and any arguments. For example, you can send a takeoff instruction using the AT*REF command with a sequence number of 1 and a parameter of 512.