Parrot AR Drone Very First Hands-on Review!
The package: The box contains the AR Drone, inside and outside bodies, a 1000 MaH LiPo battery and also wall charger, plugs for several country electric outlets, plus a target.
About the In house flight: This is when the Parrot AR Drone stands out. Push 1 button, and the propellers spin up, then adjust into high-speed to get a clean and steady pull off. After that it hovers at three feet, awaiting further instructions. In beginner mode (right button), it is easy to turn and go up and down. In the pilot mode (left button), you could fly ahead and backward and left and right. Mix the 2, and you essentially have complete control.
The optical flow placement hold is ideal on a textured surface, as a patterned carpet or tiled floor. On a 100 % featureless floor (concrete or clean, unpatterned floor covering) it might tend to move slightly. Total flight time is a bit less than 10 minutes in my experience.
While you fly above furnishings, the ultrasonic height hold may get confused. It often climbs up when you fly over a couch and sometimes it goes down. Often it will get so baffled the AR Drone would go to the ceiling. However in general, it is doing a really nice job.
Outside flight: This isn’t the AR Drone strongest suit. First off, it won’t fly more than 15 feet (because of the range of the ultrasonic sensor I guess). Furthermore, the position hold really only is effective when there is no breeze. When the wind picks up, the AR Drone starts to lean and rattles, and also the optical flow camera seems to lose it’s lock. From time to time meaning it really drifts, maybe it’ll scoot off in a random direction after having a wind gust.
However if you have no wind, it is possible to fly as far as the wifi connection will allow you to. We have successfully tested up to a hundred feet.
Dr. Mark Winston really likes Radio controlled flying as a leisure activity, because of that the AR Drone is like a dream coming true! You can see a Frequently asked questions regarding the Parrot AR Drone here for yourself and find out why this specific gadget has captured so many grown ups.
