Drone 2.0 with 720p HD camera, autonomous video-recording, we go hands-on If you'll recall, it was just yesterday that we spied the Parrot's AR.Drone 2.0 banners here at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the run-up to CES, followed today by a leak of what appeared to be the official press release. So, it's not like the cat -- or in this case quadricopter -- wasn't already partially out of the bag, but now at least, it's officially, well, official. The new Drone touts much improved 720p HD video-recording capability, a revamped app with updated flight controls and features, along with revised hardware and reinforced hulls. We recently spent a few minutes with the smartphone-controlled UAV, so head on past the break for our brief impressions and a quick video overview. Off the bat, it's clear that the AR.Drone 2.0 is more aggressively styled, with sharper edges and streamlined curves. The new indoor hull has also be re-enforced, for even more protection against any accidental floor-dives.

Parrot's also aimed to streamline the user experience, starting with its Freeflight 2.0 app for Android and iOS, which acts as a portal to all of the AR's various flight modes and related games and software. Notably, unlike it's predecessor, you can now capture videos and photos straight from your device and then share them to site like YouTube. microdrones md4-1000 uavBetter yet, it also features a new "traveling" mode, which allows for autonomous video recording along a pre-determined flight path -- perfect for budding filmmakers who'd like some aerial pizzaz. ar drone 2 usatoThe Drone's HD camera is notably smoother looking during flight, with much less video-stutter than what could be achieved with the original. parrot ar drone soldes

While we weren't able to take out our own clip, we were shown some previously recorded videos loaded on the iPad being used to control it, and they certainly looked very good. When it comes to flying, Parrot has made two notable additions to the UAV itself, which allows for more easier control. Along with the previous array of sensors, it now has a 3D magnetometer which allows it to auto-orient based on it's front camera and the position of the smartphone you're using. parrot ar drone 2 payloadFurthermore, thanks to an added "pressure sensor," pilots will be able to fly higher than the previous model, in upwards of six meters. parrot ar drone emergency buttonImpressively, having all of these new updates and features, we're told the AR.parrot ar drone 2 power edition lmt

Drone 2.0 will manage the same amount of flying time as its predecessor. If you're flying bug is getting the best of you, you'll be pleased to know that the AR.Drone 2.0 is set to ship is "Q2 of this year," at the same $300 price point of its older sibling. From around the web ear iconeye icontext fileSorry, an error occurred while processing your request. The page may be temporarily unavailable or may no longer exist. Please take a moment to provide us feedback by clicking the button below and telling us what you were attempting to do when this error occurred.  Your input will help us improve the quality of the site for our customers. Do you have feedback about this page? TODAY ONLYINCREDIBLE DEALSon headphones, portable speakers & luggage Major DEALS on major appliances FINAL WEEK TO SAVE BIG SAVINGS on baby gear from the brands you trust SAVE UP TO 70% on luggage sets - Starting as low as $199.99Drones also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have gained a huge popularity.

They allow for unique videos such as Videos 1 and 2 below. Besides, flying a drone is much easier compared to RC aircrafts, since drones manage most of their flying operations. They can even fly in total autonomy. All you have to do is to point waypoints on a map. Video 1: Las Vegas Video Tour Made using a Drone Quadcopters also known as quad-rotors are among the most widespread drones because of their ability to take-off/land vertically. They are also able to hover which is very useful for video recording or taking picture from a fixed perspective. You can get a Ready-To-Fly (RTF) small quadcopters for few dozens of bucks. But, they are rather limited and can only fly indoors. If you want to experience a true UAVs as a hobbyist we recommend to pick either an AR Drone 2 or a DJI Phatom 2. We give more details about these two drones below to help you chose the best one for you. In summary, take the AR Drone is if you have a tight budget. Otherwise, the best choice is definitely the DJI Phantom.

Video 2: Mentawai Islands Surf Video Made using a Drone One of the most popular hobby quadcopters is Parrot’s AR Drone, as proved by its active community. The basic pack is relatively cheap (about $300) regarding the proposed features (see Video 3). While most demos show the AR Drone flying outdoors, the box includes two hulls: one for indoor flights and the second for flying outdoor. The indoor hull protects the propellers and objects in case of collisions. The outdoor hull is lighter to offer less resistance to wind. Parrot provides an app (Freeflight) that allows controlling the AR Drone using smartphones or tablets through a self generated Wifi network. There are versions for both iOS and Android. Freeflight has multiple features and allows different activities. The app includes games, gives you access to live data from other pilots, and also allows you to take pictures and record videos using the onboard HD 720p camera. Video 3: AR Drone 2.0 Features Freeflight has of course a pilot mode presented in Video 4.

The interface is intuitive so beginners can immediately fly the AR Drone. Since most of the flight parameters are controlled by the quadcopter itself, all you have to do is decide which way to go or at which speed. Take-off or landing are performed by simply tapping a button. Even performing a flip which is a complex maneuver is as easy as a double-tap. For advanced users Freeflight allows a wide range of customizations to cover different flying conditions (e.g. indoors vs. outdoors) or applications. Video 4: Pilot Features of the AR Drone Freeflight App You can give the AR Drone more autonomy if you extend it with a Flight Recorder. This board is both a GPS and an autopilot. It allows planning a flight by choosing waypoints on a map. As shown on Video 5, for every point you can choose also the altitude and the speed. Then all you have to do is watch the video while the drone is taking care of all the flying. Besides, Flight Recorder makes it easy to get your drone comeback to you.

Just tap the home button to make the AR.Drone 2.0 automatically return to its take-off point. Video 5: AR Drone Flight Recorder in Action If your budget allows, we’d rather recommend you go for a DJI Phantom 2 which is also very popular. It has a rock solid frame and much more interesting specs compared to the AR Drone. With its 5200mAh LiPo Battery, the Phantom 2 can fly non-stop for 25min at a speed that tops at 15m/s. The Phantom 2 can also carry a payload that goes up to 300g. Actually, it is often used to carry a stabilized high quality camera that allows for flicker free videos, definitely close to professional footage (see Video 6). Video 6: Capturing videos with the Phantom 2 Vision+ DJI makes various versions of the Phantom 2 that differ in their level of equipment. Since, the Phantom 2 is easily upgradable, you can buy the drone with only its remote control alone (approx. $680) and buy other accessories later on, or reuse a GoPro cam if you already have one.

But, if you want the full set up at once, you should go for the Vision series ($1000 to $1300 approx.). The high end Phantom 2 Vision+ comes with a 14 Megapixels camera attached to a 3-axis stabilization gimbal to ensure flicker free footage as show in Video 6. Besides, the axis is motorized so you can tilt the camera up or down, while keeping the Phantom hovering or moving steadily resulting into movie like effects. The Phantom 2 Vision series is also shipped with a Wifi access point which is basically a relay that allows operating the drone at a wider range (see Video 7): from 400m up to 800m in an open area. Video 7: DJI Phantom 2 Vision Unboxing, Setup, Flight Testing and Aerial Video Demonstration The DJI Phantom is a true drone since it is able to perform autonomous flight. The app for smartphone and tablet allows programming waypoints and flight plans based on a satellite map (see Video 8). The autopilot can also take over when flying the Phantom in manual mode. When disconnected, the GPS failsafe mode is activated and the drone automatically goes back and lands at the home position.