Alcatel-Lucent flies Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 over 3,280 feet using LTE: reach out and buzz someone (video)Drone 2.0 is many good things, but "long-ranged" isn't what comes to mind with a 165-foot maximum distance between pilot and quadrocopter. Not to be daunted, Alcatel-Lucent has conducted a test with an ad hoc LTE network, a USB modem and a smartphone to see just how far the remote-controlled aircraft could go on 4G. In practice, quite far: thanks in part to the inherently wide coverage of the 800MHz band in France, the team flew the AR.Drone more than 3,280 feet (one kilometer), all while streaming 720p video of the farmland below. Besides giving us ideas for a North by Northwest remake, the flight emphasized the possibilities that come when we have access to a long-distance wireless link with high bandwidth, such as monitoring crops or some very literal field journalism. The challenge will be convincing Alcatel-Lucent to share its trick and let us pester our not-so-next-door neighbors.

Parrot's new Flight Recorder for AR.Drone 2.0Parrot has announced a new peripheral for its AR.Drone 2.0, a black box-style Flight Recorder with 4 GB of Flash storage to record GPS and flight data, as well as locally save about 2 hours of HD footage recorded on the drone's onboard camera. Parrot has also announced a new Director Mode for its piloting app which allows easy editing of recorded footage, as well as an improved battery which increases the drone's flight time by a claimed 50 percent.In the grand tradition of airplane black boxes, Parrot has colored its new Flight Recorder module bright orange. With the outer shell removed, the module is fastened to the AR.Drone 2.0 with velcro, and connected by USB. The company says that the module tracks both GPS and onboard flight data, and is accurate to plus or minus 2 meters (7 feet). The data can be retrieved and overlaid on the maps of the AR.Drone Academy for viewing in 3D.The Flight Recorder is fitted inside the AR.Drone's outer shellThe Flight Recorder also provides new navigational possibilities.

A Click & Go mode allows a destination to be set with a single tap of a map on a smartphone or tablet. Altitude and flight speed can be adjusted as desired. The new Return Home function calls the AR.Drone 2.0 back to its point of departure with a single push. The Flight Recorder is also compatible with the QGround Control station and the open source MAVLink protocol. Users of autopilot software paparazzi can install it on their drones thanks to a project at the Delft University of Technology.Parrot's AR.black ops 2 remote droneDrone 2.0 (sans shell) complete with Flight Recorder spotted by Gizmag at this year's Paris Air Show (Photo: Gizmag)Parrot has also announced a new Director Mode in its AR.ar drone 2 change motorDrone 2.0 piloting app. ar drone australia price

This allows the camera's white balance, exposure and saturation to be adjusted. More significantly, Director Mode lets pilots edit together videos of their favorite sequences, essentially allowing them to knock up quick highlights reels from longer flight videos. Parrot has also created a new Rescue Mode, available as a free update, which activates the propellers in two ways in order to dislodge a drone caught in a tree.Finally, Parrot has announced a new lithium polymer "High Density" battery which, the company claims, increases flight time by 50 percent to a total of 18 minutes. buy microdrone md4-1000It does not appear that this is included as standard on new AR drones.ar drone 2 preçoParrot's Flight Record is priced at US$129.95 and is available immediately. ar drone motor check

Director Mode is available as an iOS in-app purchase for $3.99 (the app must be up to date to see this option). An Android version is set for September. The High Density battery is set to go on sale for $69.95, but is yet to be listed at the online store.Product page: Parrot Flight Recorder for AR Drone 2.0 Currency - All prices are in AUD HomeDrones & ToysDronesParrot AR Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Flying Drone Snow/Jungle/Sand Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Flying Drone Snow/Jungle/Sandar drone parts the source Camera Included Camera Max Resolution Battery Capacity Number of Batteries Included App Range Yes 720p 12 min 1 iOS & Android 165 feet (50 meters)   Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition App Controlled Quadricopter with HD Camera is the leading flying drone which you will happily control by mobile or tablet operating systems, such as iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad or Android devices. Its built-in 720p HD camera provides live video streaming to your smartphone or tablet while you are flying!

Enjoy a beautiful, sharp, clean image as if you were in the pilot's seat! At any moment, you have the option of video recording or capturing JPEG photos. Drone 2.0 Elite Edition can be used by pilots of all skill levels: its autopilot feature allows anyone to become an expert instantly with easy take-off and landing. FreeFlight 2.0 control application for free on the App Store or the Android Market New "Absolute Control" mode gives you an option to change levels from beginner to expert Record and share videos and pictures directly from the piloting interface (your smartphone or tablet) Store and share your flight data (time, speed, altitude) to unlock community achievements Geolocate your flights and connect with a community of pilots to see flights and videos from all over the world, and check who is flying in your neighborhood     During flight, a built-in 720p HD camera streams video directly to your device at 30fps and provides the option of video recording or capturing JPEG photos.

Videos and images taken from the quadricopter can be shared directly from the piloting interface to such places as YouTube or Picasa. The HD camera has a 92° wide angle lens which gives AR.Drone 2.0 pilots as much visibility and peripheral vision on the screen of their device as possible while flying. In addition to this HD Camera, The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 can also be featured with a flight recorder GPS (not included). This device will help you stabilize your Drone, offer you "Return Home" mode and will allow you to create your flight plans in advance.     Intuitive: by tilting your device, you control the direction of your AR.Drone 2.0, and by releasing it, the AR.Drone 2.0 is instantly stabilised Pilot like a Pro: thanks to the AR.Drone's autopilot feature, anyone can be an expert as the embedded sensors allow for easy take-off and landing. Drone 2.0 also features the exclusive and patented Absolute Control piloting mode for beginners that can be adjusted with your growing expertise Explore More: with the new AR.

Drone 2.0-generated WiFi N Connection, users can control the AR.Drone 2.0 from up to 165 feet away and with a fully charged lithium polymer battery it will provide 12 minutes of flight time. Drone 2.0 pressure sensors on-board provide unique stability that will automatically correct and maintain a still position in the air regardless of altitude and wind up to 15 mph Acrobatic: this flip move is exclusive to AR.Become a daring pilot and perform barrel rolls by simply hitting a button High Durabiliy & Easy Repair: the exterior of the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 is built tough and built to last. It comes with an indoor hull that is robust to safely protect the quadricopter during indoor flights and an outdoor hull that is sleeker, designed to give pilots more speed and control. Foam inserts protect the propellers and isolate the inertial center from the engines' vibration. It has an EPP (expanded polypropylene) hull with carbon fiber tubes, high grade 30% fiber charged parts, and ultrasound sensors with liquid repellent nano-coating.

All of its parts are also fully replaceable and repairable. Simply put, the AR.Drone 2.0 can withstand even the most daring tricks so don't be afraid to push the limits!   FreeFlight App, discover the Director Mode (in-app purchase). it will allow you to create high-quality and stable movie shots. Choose your movements, adjust your speed, select your key-sequencies and share them on your favorite social medias !     Drone 2.0 with the free downloadable app 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 indoor or outdoor   Click here to download Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 User Manual. What's In The Box Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition Flying Drone Parrot LiPo High Density 1500 mAh Replacement Battery for Parrot AR.