AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter Power Edition

Product Description

Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter Power Edition. STAY IN THE AIR UP TO 3X LONGER with 2 swappable HD batteries. Set of 2 HD batteries let you fly up to 36 minutes without needing to recharge (up to 18 minutes each). CUSTOMIZE YOUR LOOK with 4 sets of colored propellers. Black, Red, Blue and Orange - they're all included! WORKS WITH DRONE 2.0 APPS for iOS and Android devices. Amazing piloting and sharing apps available in the App Store and Google Play. New - Power Edition Drone works with all AR.Drone 2.0 apps for your iOS or Android Device. Perform advanced stunts ordinary RC helicopters can't. Fly up to 165 feet from your Wi-Fi device. See what the pilot sees with new front facing camera. Capture 720p HD videos and stills to share online. Enjoy controlled, level flying with automatic stabilization system. Play augmented reality games that turn the world around you into a video game. Fly indoors or out. For ages 14 and up. WARNING: Choking hazard due to small parts. See what the pilot sees - in high-definition video. The AR.Drone 2.0 quadricopter with on-board Wi-Fi system puts you in control via your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android or Nook devices. But here's the best part-while in flight, the copter's all-new front camera captures video and stills in sharp 720p HD that you can stream live or record to share with friends on YouTube, the AR.Drone community, or other sites with just a tap. Video records at a fast 30 fps through the big 92 degrees wide-angle lens. Record the Wi-Fi live stream directly on your device or use optional recording on USB key (key not included).

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12584 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Parrot

Features

• STAY IN THE AIR UP TO 3X LONGER with 2 swappable 1500mAh high density batteries.
• Take striking HD still shots and 720p HD videos at formerly unattainable heights and angles.
• CUSTOMIZE YOUR LOOK with 4 sets of colored propellers: black, red, blue and orange.
• Live stream HD videos or share them on YouTube® and other websites with just a tap.
• See what the pilot sees with the brand new front facing 92° wide-angle lens.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Great fun but fly carefully or you will be fixing more than flying
By B. Gourdji
This is my second AR Drone 2.0 The first I purchased 1 year ago, these new one I've had for the past month and a half. The AR Drone is a Quad Copter with built in front facing 720p HD Camera and Standard Def down facing camera. You need good light though for flying and the video to come out it's best.

What's in the box.

AR Drone 2.0
3 sets of colored rotor blades, red, orange and blue
C clip removal tool for rotor replacement
2 1500mah batteries
Standard Battery Charger
In Door and Outdoor hulls in black
Set of stickers
Instructions.

What's different from this versus regular AR Drone 2.0 is the Power Edition included the 3 sets of colored rotors, Two 1500mah versus a single 1000mah battery, C clip removal tool, Black hulls versus multi colored.
Also this AR Drone does seem to fly a little more stable and perform flips better than my original one which would always loose a lot of altitude when doing them. This could be the Hardware version of the motors going from 5 to 6.

Setup and How it works

Setup is simple, there practically is none if you don't include applying some of the stickers to the indoor hull. Just plug in a charger battery, download the free freeflight app on your android or iOS device and connect to the Wifi hotspot created by your new AR Drone. You may also want to rename the SSID of said hotspot within the app.

Flight Controls, flying and impressions.

Once you're loaded into the freeflight app you can run through the options and select if you're flying indoors or outdoors, the speed at which the AR Drone responds to controls. Normal versus Absolute control, joypad mode and so forth.

To take off you simply tap the take off / land button on the screen. The drone will go into a full stable hover. If you are in absolute control mode which I recommend for beginners it doesn't matter which way you move the joystick as down will always make the Parrot Fly toward you, right will always make it move to your right and so forth. Alternatively you can control the plane via tilting your device rather than using the virtual joystick. I also recommend using the indoor hull even when outside until you get used to flying. I would also not fly if the wind outside is much more than 10mph. The reason for the caution is that the plans is very easy to crash and you will constantly find yourself having to replace the gears and shafts and on rarer occasion, the rotors. It's best to fly the Parrot AR Drone with decent light as it will not fly as stable or as reliably in little to no light. Also for the best HD video footage you'll want very good lightning otherwise it can get a bit grainy.

Flight Times.

With the new 1500mah batteris I've been averaging 15 to 16 minutes of flight time. Your results will vary depending on wind conditions and how aggressively you fly, and if you use the flip command to do stunts.

Cameras.

You have a fix mounted front 720p HD camera and Standard Def down facing camera you can toggle between. You can also take still images as you video. The unit records to a USB stick (not included) or direct to your device.

How high and far does it go.

The answer to this one is not a simple one as the range will vary greatly depending on what device you're controlling the AR Drone with, as well as interference from other wireless networks. The freeflight software has a 100meter altitude limit which is 325 feet, though no limit on distance. From an iPhone you may get as much as a 50 meter distance if you're not any wifi networks to interfere with you. From an iPad you may get around 80 meters give or take.

How to further extend your range / altitude.

One method myself and other's use to extend the range is using a wireless repeater / range extender, plugged in to some sort of portable battery such as an UP Supply. The Range Extender connects to your Parrots WIFI Hotspot then your iOS or Android Device to the Repeater. With a good repeater and not much interference you should easily be able to top the 100meter altitude limit as well as getting good distance. I've tested my own to 80 meters so far using my iPhone connected to it, in a heavily congested wifi area.

What the AR in Parrot AR Drone means.

The AR Part is for Augmented Reality. There are additional free apps downloadable from the app store which allow both single and 2 player augmented reality games. These games range from creating artificial space aliens for you to shoot at to head to head dog fighting against another AR Drone with simulated missiles and lasers. I've yet to actually try any of these apps as I've been more engrossed in the fun of flying and arial photography.

Final impressions.

overall this is a nice turn key solution for some great First Person View flying. It doesn't take long to get off the ground but does take some time to master reliable safe flight. The FPV Flying is great as well as watching back your recorded flights which are done either directly to your control device or to a USB stick, I recommend using USB. The main downsides to me is that you can't fly in heavier winds and the exposed gears which damage all too easily in a crash and unfortunately I've spend a much time fixing my Parrot as I have flying it. I give it 3 of 5 stars. I would go higher if it had improved durability with respect to the gears and shafts and the ability to adjust the angle of the front facing HD Camera.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
It actually works, and is a blast!
By Richard G. Bunker Jr.
My son and I are having a blast with this. So far we haven't lost it or broken it (much). The foam bumper for indoor flying did get a crack fast, but some tape fixed that in a flash. We hope to get good enough at piloting it soon, to be able to better chase the dog.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Its a great recon drone
By TK211X
It does not fly too good with the indoor hull on. I would not use this for "fun" or tricks. I would personally take good care of this drone and absolutely try to avoid crashes because the most miner repairs are in the +$20's

See all 7 customer reviews...