parrot ar drone rc
In this video I show how to solder and install the mirumod on my Parrot AR.Drone (specifically version 1.0). I don't have the 2.0's so can't get into too much details about it so please check the latest documentation regarding the newer versions of the AR.Even though I'm demonstrating this mod on a AR.Drone 1.0, a lot of the information is still relevant to the newer models with regards to the programming and testing. Just make note of the necessary LLC (logic level converter) for the AR.Drone 2.0 or you'll FRY it!This is an update to a video I did back in 2010 which used a Yellow Jacket to talk via WiFi to the Parrot AR.The mirumod by miru allows you to use your Parrot AR.Drone with a regular RC radio transmitter (Spektrum DX6i / Turnigy 9x / etc). This is an improved mod that doesn't require WiFi and you don't need to use your iOS or Android device. It uses an Arduino Pro Mini and plugs directly into port under ARDrone. Unplugging it will return it to factory. Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for any damage to you or your device.
Please read all current documentation because the information could be out of date by the time you watch this video. /////products/11113AR.Drone 1.0 - 4.7k ohm resistor for TXO pin (AR.Drone 1.0) - You can also use a LLC (logic level converter), but since my AR.Drone is the older 1.0, a resistor was good enough - 2mm headers for AR./ProductDetail/Harwin/M22-71...AR.Drone 2.0+- LLC (logic level converter), You have to have this or you'll FRY the Drone 2.0+ http://mirumod.tk//hw/mirullc/mirullc.php - See schematics on how to wire it http://mirumod.tk/hw/arduino_pro_mini/arduino_pro...- 2mm male headers for AR Drone 2.0 - http://mirumod.tk/hw/arduino_pro_mini/arduino_pro...Radio system I'm using a Spektrum DX6i transmitter (TX) and AR6100e receiver (RX), but will probably switch to my Turnigy 9X. You can use any programmable radio system as long as it has 5 or more channels. FrSky Taranis, Walkera Devo 7e/10, Spektrum DX6/7/8/9, and many others. Just make sure you test it throughly with the serial monitor to ensure all the controls are working right before doing a test flight.
Alternative radio system (Spektrum compatible): - OrangeRX T-SIX transmitter - http://bit.ly/hkorxtsix - OrangeRX DSM2/DSMX receiver - http://bit.ly/hkorxtsix Documentation and schematics: http://mirumod.tk/hw/arduino_pro_mini/arduino_pro...Software: mirumod 022 by miru - http://mirumod.tk Arduino IDE - http://mirumod.tk HyperTerminal - http://mirumod.tk 3D printed bottom plastic cover plate Thingiverse. /thing:1132554This is a very involved project with lots of components and issues that can pop up so take your time. You'll be a better person after it's all done :)If you can't be bothered with all this nonsense, you can buy it from miru himself! I It's a tiny all-in-one board with the drone connector, USB, and LLC (Logic Level converter) that you just plug into your Drone and configure your transmitter. The flight range of the AR.We've been excited for the Parrot AR.Drone since we first heard about it early this year. After a few different hands-on opportunities at various conventions, it was hard to not see the amazing potential the device had once you got it outside of the little 10 foot by 10 foot tent that was home to its demonstrations.
Drone does bind itself to the first device that connects to it to prevent other people from hijacking your flight session.
ar drone sale singaporeUnpairing your phone is as simple as pressing a small button on the underside of the device.
parrot ar drone exploded view Once you're connected to the AR.Drone via the Free Flight app, you're immediately shown whatever the front facing camera sees. The top left button cycles through what is displayed on the screen between the front facing camera, the bottom facing camera, or a mixture of both. With both displayed you can continue pressing the button to swap whether the front facing or bottom facing camera is shown in the corner or filling the screen. Just below the camera cycling button is a button that allows you to edit the settings of the device. From here you can tweak nearly everything such as how quickly it will climb, how much it will bank on turns, how sensitive the iPhone controls are, and even the SSID the AR.
Also in the settings is what kind of shell you're currently using and whether or not you're flying outdoors. Included with the Parrot AR.Drone is the large indoor shell which protects the propellers from bumping in to things as you fly it around your house as well as the much sleeker outdoor shell. Swapping these is easy, they fit over the front facing camera and are secured on the back with a magnet. Outdoor hulls are available in three different colors for $20 each, and a replacement indoor hull will run you $30. The first thing you notice with the AR.Drone when you pull it out of the box is just how incredibly light and fragile the whole unit feels. The two different hulls and the body of the unit itself are made of EPP, or Expanded Polypropylene, a material that is widely used in most RC aircraft. It's able to bounce back and retain its shape, but just like other RC aircraft, I don't see the AR.Drone being able to handle much abuse. Thankfully, Parrot has an entire online store with every part you'd need to completely rebuilt your AR.
Drone if you had to. Flying the device itself is very easy, although doing anything more than just basic maneuvers requires a bit of getting used to. In the Free Flight app, tapping the button at the bottom of the screen causes the AR.Drone to either take off or land. From there, holding your thumb on a button on the bottom left side of the screen allows you to move the unit forward, back, or side to side by tilting the device you're running Free Flight on. Turning side to side and adjusting your altitude is accomplished using a virtual joystick of sorts on the right. If you get in trouble, an emergency button on the top of the screen immediately kills power to the propellers. It's amazing just how much the AR.Drone does for you. It comes packed with some fairly advanced circuitry that will do everything it can to keep the device level. If you ever lose your connection to the AR.Drone WiFi, it just stops itself then slowly lands. Using sensor data from the bottom of the device, it can keep itself hover in place, even outside in a light breeze.
Aside from actually running into something, the AR.Drone is also very difficult to crash, even when you're intentionally trying to get it to lose control. If it senses that it's about to tilt too far to one direction or otherwise lose control, it will abruptly correct itself. It's really cool to see all these systems working in tandem, and if you've ever fiddled with other RC helicopters before, how idiot proof the AR.Drone is in comparison will amaze you. Unfortunately, because flying the device is such a cool experience, the first thing you immediately come to grips with is just how short the battery life is. On a full charge, I was able to fly the unit outside for around a half hour (or less depending on wind conditions) and indoors I was able to juice an additional 15 minutes or so out of the battery for a total flight time of about 45 minutes. Charging the battery back up takes an hour and a half. Another unfortunate drawback to the AR.Drone is just how mediocre the cameras on the device are.
The forward facing camera sports a resolution of 640x480, and Parrot claims it delivers this video feed at 15 FPS, but in my testing the frame rate was rarely anywhere near that, or very constant for that matter. The bottom camera is a much lower 176x144, but can display 60 FPS according to Parrot. In my testing, video from the bottom camera is a lot smoother, but it is very difficult to fly the unit using only the bottom facing camera. Because of this, more often than not I just flew the AR.Drone like I would any other RC toy in that I just watched it in the air and used my iPhone as an incredibly elaborate controller. Without a shell on, the AR.Drone can lift very light loads, allowing for things like high definition helmet cams to be strapped to it for some better video. For instance, I found this video on YouTube of an AR.Drone with a Contour HD 1080p camera onboard: Once you spend more time with the AR.Drone, other limitations begin to become increasingly noticeable. For instance, with the height limiter enabled in the options, the AR.
Drone will only climb to around 20 feet off the ground which is as far as the sensors under the craft can detect. With the height limiter disabled, you can climb much higher, but flying the unit becomes incredibly difficult as it's no longer capable of hovering in place once you exceed the capabilities of its bottom-fancing sensors. Testing the vertical capabilities of the device was the only time I had to use the emergency button. Once you take away the AR.Drone's ability to figure out where it is in relation to the ground, it loses its ability to correct its location. Flying the device on what I'd call a fairly calm day resulted in it almost being blown into some trees when a small breeze picked up. In comparison, in similar conditions closer to the ground the AR.Drone barely moved at all. Also, since the whole device operates on WiFi, you're constrained by the range limitations of both the AR.Drone and the iPhone. Parrot is claiming you can operate the device from 150 feet away, which seemed a little optimistic in my testing.
Thankfully, all the cool auto-pilolting stuff I mentioned earlier comes in to play when you lose your connection to the AR.Drone and it just flies in place waiting for you to get back in range and resume flight. Overall the Parrot AR.Drone seems like a very 1.0 device with loads of potential both in future hardware revisions and in future development with the AR.Improved battery technology, higher resolution cameras, and more powerful sensors to allow for higher flights are all things I would love to see in future models. Currently the only companion app available for the AR.Drone is the Free Flight app, but Parrot has promised other apps such as augmented reality games where two players with their own AR.Drones can have virtual dog fights, and other similar things. None of these were available at the time of this review, but I definitely can see the amazing potential for future software development. Parrot is boasting a completely open API for developers to program their own apps to interface with the AR.
While I'd love to think that there are going to be all kinds of different third party apps for the device, I really can't imagine many developers devoting resources to projects that not only require you to own an iPhone or iPod touch, but also a Parrot AR.Drone-- Especially considering the mediocre uptake that iPad-only games have seen, and the iPad's market is likely exponentially larger than that of the Parrot AR. However, if you're interested in RC aircraft and have dabbled in iPhone development, I really can't think of a much better toy to own than the AR.Throughout all my testing, I kept thinking "The AR.Drone would be cool if it did _______." If you're capable of utilizing the API to build an app that fills in the blank for whatever awesome functionality you come up with, $300 for the AR.Drone seems like a worthy investment for hobbyists. While the Parrot AR.Drone is the coolest RC Toy I've ever played with, it's hard to give it a strong general recommendation given the current lack of software.