iPhone RC Quadricopter with Augmented Reality is Every Man’s Dream

Thursday, January 7, 2010

This may be the coolest thing ever. While I am perhaps prone to exaggeration occasionally, this is almost a reason to buy an iphone if you never intend to make a single phone call.

Introducing the Parrot AR Drone. A quadricopter that creates a wifi network to connect to the iPhone and iPod Touch. The accelerometers in these devices will allow a tilting of your iPod Touch or iPhone to control this absolutely off the hook remote controlled toy.

The Parrot AR with the use of two video cameras, one front mounted and the other attached to the underside..will provide not only a real-time video feed to your iPhone but land itself if your connection to the Drone is ever lost. Apparently, the Drone also offers an autopilot and smart flight mode that compensates for wind.

The Parrot AR Drone will also include enhanced reality video games utilizing the front mounted camera and the addition of overlaid 3D models with the potential for third party developed games.

While we have no idea the cost or when it will be available rumors suggest it will come in under $500 and be available by June 2010.

Additionally, the Drone includes two hulls for use both indoors and outdoors. For indoor flight a polypropylene shell can be attached for maximum rotor protection where outdoor flight will focus on maximum control.

I WANT THIS NOW. DESPITE NO MENTION OF THE WIFI NETWORKS RANGE, THIS PROMISES TO BE THE GADGET OF 2010.

Watch the YouTube video.