Phoenix Defender Group
Unmanned System Developer
Parrot AR Drone 2.0- Review and Assessment
(pictures from Parrot)
Technical Information
Price: $300
In the Box: AR Drone 2.0 Quadricopter, 1s 1000mah battery (12 min flight time), Charger with universal adapters, quick start guide, beacon stickers (for virtual games using drone), taper to fix hull, indoor hull, outdoor hull
Flight Times: 12min (1000mah), 18min (if optional 1500mah is bought)
All electronics made by parrot, motor, esc, flight board, battery etc.
Camera: 720p hd (forward) subHD stabilizing camera (downward)
Range (w/o extender):165 meters
Wifi:b/g/n
devices: apple and android only
Out of the Box: very nice sturdy and good looking quad
Information
The Parrot Ar Drone 2.0 is a RC Quadricopter with an HD front facing fpv and a subHD downward facing camera and two ultrasound sensors. It is controlled by the AR Freeflight App from your smartphone or tablet. It can also be piloted with apps like AutoFlight and QGroundControl. Parrot says it is designed as a beginner Quadricopter for use as a drone and a Toy for kids 14+ years of age.
Safety Features/ Other Features
AR Drone has a number of interesting features
-settings for flight speed (max tilt), rotation speed, interface (control type), type of battery, hull, record, usb record etc.
-Auto lands if battery less than 5%
-if tilt angle is too much motors will cut out
-if something is lodged in propellers motor will cut out
-does not allow for takeoff if battery voltage is too low
-one touch takeoff and landing
-easy to fly
OPEN BOX
Included: 2 Hulls (Indoor & Outdoor), a balance charger with 4 plugs for each of the 4 regions of the world, 1 100mah Lithium Ion Polymer Battery with 12 minutes of flight time, a set of gaming stickers for indoor hull, and a main body (the actual electronic drone)​Features include a Front facing FPV HD camera, and a Downward facing SubHD placement camera w/FPV, Ultrasound sensors and 2.4ghz upgrade ports, water resistant motors, and epo+plastic Magnetic snap on Hulls.
The Build
There was none! It is an RTF right out of the Box!
Flight Review, Setup & Care
Setup
The Setup of the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 may be harder than expected. First turn on the drone by plugging in the battery. While the Drone Initializes on your mobile device go to settings and select the wifi network of your drone. Then open freeflight and go to piloting. In the corner you will see a gear symbol this is to access the flight settings this lets you control everything from the vertical speed, rotation speed, height limit (recommended not higher than 10m), tilt angle or main drone speed, and even if you want to flip or not and in what direction. There are outdoor flight options (if you are flying outside or not) and hull modes (outdoor or indoor), Make sure you check these settings especially as these heavily affect the performance of the ARDrone2.0. You can also choose if you want to auto record, use left handed control (switch controls), or use absolute control mode. Absolute Control is a beginner mode exclusive to AR Drone 2.0. It uses you as a reference point not the direction the drone is facing.
Flight Review
Flying the AR Drone 2.0 was fairly simple. After the setup and tutorial videos it is a piece of cake to fly. The mode that will be used for this review is LEFT-HANDED CONTROL & Joystick Mode. Takeoff was very simple, you just hit the button and it takes off automatically and stabilizes about 2 feet above the ground. Then using Left Handed Control With Joystick Mode the we use the left joystick for drone movement, and the right one for altitude and position. Move the right joystick up and the drone will ascend. Move the Right joystick down and the drone will descend. Move the right joystick right and the drone will rotate right, move it left and the drone will do the opposite. On the left is the movement joystick slide up to move forward, back for backward, left to bank and move left (without turning) and vice versa if joystick is pulled right. Overall the Drone is Easy To Fly.
Is This for a Beginner?
In essence, proper setup & use, and a little bit of common sense this Drone can pass off as a beginner quadricopter but ONLY WITH PROPER SETTINGS. This Drone can go very fast and high with High Control Rates ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SETTING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE< IF NOT DON'T JUST LEAVE IT, CHANGE THEM! This drone requires moderate and proper setup & a little bit of proper care. THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE AIRHOGS TYPE DRONE IT CAN HURT SOMEONE BE VERY CAREFUL. Flight can VARY in intensity depending on flight settings. Depending on YOUR COMFORT LEVEL set the flight settings accordingly. Settings include but are not limited to speed, tilt, service ceiling (recommended 10m maximum), rotation speed, left handed or right handed, etc. Parrot States that this product is NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE and they are absolutely correct. Even if it is stated that this is a beginner quadricopter our assumption at AVPT is that this is an advanced quadricopter with beginner settings and should be flown with caution. If settings permit the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 can travel at very high speeds and be very hard to control. Also there is no safety feature on the balance charger, it is asking for an explosion if you leave it charging UNATTENDED as this is a DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. You must constantly monitor the battery but charge it for 70 to 90 minutes for optimal flight. Setup of the AR Drone is also slightly complicated as you must know your comfort level, your limits, and most importantly the Drone's limits. THIS IS BY NO MEANS A FIRST FLYER FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 11-14 THIS IS NOT A TOY IT CAN HURT IF YOU ARE HIT WITH IT. THE BLADES SPIN VERY FAST AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. DO NOT ALLOW A CHILD OR ADULT WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN RADIO CONTROL HANDEL THIS AIRCRAFT, FOR BEGINNERS START WITH SMALLER SLOWER AND ANTI-AEROBATIC GYRO HELICOPTERS. BY NO MEANS SHOULD THIS PRODUCT BE STORED IN THE REACH OF PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN AS THE LITHIUM ION POLYMER BATTERY CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH AND EVEN BE FATAL (RISK OF EXPLOSION IF PUNCTURED)! I would recommend this as an Advanced quadricopter with beginner settings for the age range 11-14 and up (depending on level of common sense). I recommend that the pilot have a decent amount of experience with gyro helicopters and extensive knowledge of the care of RC Hobby Grade vehicles, and Lithium Batteries.
Closing
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is an Advanced Quadricopter with beginner modes suitable for 11-14 years and above. This drone can be very dangerous and it hard to control at High-Rates. Overall this drone is an advanced HD Quadricopter with a strong frame & Epo Magnet hull. It has a very nice design and is easy to control in beginner settings, but flip the rates to high you'd better be ready for some high speed action. This is a very nice Quadricopter if you know it's limits and most importantly your limits. Presenting the Parrot AR Drone 2.0
Any Questions please feel free to ask
(pictures from Parrot)
Technical Information
Price: $300
In the Box: AR Drone 2.0 Quadricopter, 1s 1000mah battery (12 min flight time), Charger with universal adapters, quick start guide, beacon stickers (for virtual games using drone), taper to fix hull, indoor hull, outdoor hull
Flight Times: 12min (1000mah), 18min (if optional 1500mah is bought)
All electronics made by parrot, motor, esc, flight board, battery etc.
Camera: 720p hd (forward) subHD stabilizing camera (downward)
Range (w/o extender):165 meters
Wifi:b/g/n
devices: apple and android only
Out of the Box: very nice sturdy and good looking quad
Information
The Parrot Ar Drone 2.0 is a RC Quadricopter with an HD front facing fpv and a subHD downward facing camera and two ultrasound sensors. It is controlled by the AR Freeflight App from your smartphone or tablet. It can also be piloted with apps like AutoFlight and QGroundControl. Parrot says it is designed as a beginner Quadricopter for use as a drone and a Toy for kids 14+ years of age.
Safety Features/ Other Features
AR Drone has a number of interesting features
-settings for flight speed (max tilt), rotation speed, interface (control type), type of battery, hull, record, usb record etc.
-Auto lands if battery less than 5%
-if tilt angle is too much motors will cut out
-if something is lodged in propellers motor will cut out
-does not allow for takeoff if battery voltage is too low
-one touch takeoff and landing
-easy to fly
OPEN BOX
Included: 2 Hulls (Indoor & Outdoor), a balance charger with 4 plugs for each of the 4 regions of the world, 1 100mah Lithium Ion Polymer Battery with 12 minutes of flight time, a set of gaming stickers for indoor hull, and a main body (the actual electronic drone)​Features include a Front facing FPV HD camera, and a Downward facing SubHD placement camera w/FPV, Ultrasound sensors and 2.4ghz upgrade ports, water resistant motors, and epo+plastic Magnetic snap on Hulls.
The Build
There was none! It is an RTF right out of the Box!
Flight Review, Setup & Care
Setup
The Setup of the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 may be harder than expected. First turn on the drone by plugging in the battery. While the Drone Initializes on your mobile device go to settings and select the wifi network of your drone. Then open freeflight and go to piloting. In the corner you will see a gear symbol this is to access the flight settings this lets you control everything from the vertical speed, rotation speed, height limit (recommended not higher than 10m), tilt angle or main drone speed, and even if you want to flip or not and in what direction. There are outdoor flight options (if you are flying outside or not) and hull modes (outdoor or indoor), Make sure you check these settings especially as these heavily affect the performance of the ARDrone2.0. You can also choose if you want to auto record, use left handed control (switch controls), or use absolute control mode. Absolute Control is a beginner mode exclusive to AR Drone 2.0. It uses you as a reference point not the direction the drone is facing.
Flight Review
Flying the AR Drone 2.0 was fairly simple. After the setup and tutorial videos it is a piece of cake to fly. The mode that will be used for this review is LEFT-HANDED CONTROL & Joystick Mode. Takeoff was very simple, you just hit the button and it takes off automatically and stabilizes about 2 feet above the ground. Then using Left Handed Control With Joystick Mode the we use the left joystick for drone movement, and the right one for altitude and position. Move the right joystick up and the drone will ascend. Move the Right joystick down and the drone will descend. Move the right joystick right and the drone will rotate right, move it left and the drone will do the opposite. On the left is the movement joystick slide up to move forward, back for backward, left to bank and move left (without turning) and vice versa if joystick is pulled right. Overall the Drone is Easy To Fly.
Is This for a Beginner?
In essence, proper setup & use, and a little bit of common sense this Drone can pass off as a beginner quadricopter but ONLY WITH PROPER SETTINGS. This Drone can go very fast and high with High Control Rates ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SETTING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE< IF NOT DON'T JUST LEAVE IT, CHANGE THEM! This drone requires moderate and proper setup & a little bit of proper care. THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE AIRHOGS TYPE DRONE IT CAN HURT SOMEONE BE VERY CAREFUL. Flight can VARY in intensity depending on flight settings. Depending on YOUR COMFORT LEVEL set the flight settings accordingly. Settings include but are not limited to speed, tilt, service ceiling (recommended 10m maximum), rotation speed, left handed or right handed, etc. Parrot States that this product is NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE and they are absolutely correct. Even if it is stated that this is a beginner quadricopter our assumption at AVPT is that this is an advanced quadricopter with beginner settings and should be flown with caution. If settings permit the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 can travel at very high speeds and be very hard to control. Also there is no safety feature on the balance charger, it is asking for an explosion if you leave it charging UNATTENDED as this is a DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. You must constantly monitor the battery but charge it for 70 to 90 minutes for optimal flight. Setup of the AR Drone is also slightly complicated as you must know your comfort level, your limits, and most importantly the Drone's limits. THIS IS BY NO MEANS A FIRST FLYER FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 11-14 THIS IS NOT A TOY IT CAN HURT IF YOU ARE HIT WITH IT. THE BLADES SPIN VERY FAST AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. DO NOT ALLOW A CHILD OR ADULT WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN RADIO CONTROL HANDEL THIS AIRCRAFT, FOR BEGINNERS START WITH SMALLER SLOWER AND ANTI-AEROBATIC GYRO HELICOPTERS. BY NO MEANS SHOULD THIS PRODUCT BE STORED IN THE REACH OF PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN AS THE LITHIUM ION POLYMER BATTERY CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH AND EVEN BE FATAL (RISK OF EXPLOSION IF PUNCTURED)! I would recommend this as an Advanced quadricopter with beginner settings for the age range 11-14 and up (depending on level of common sense). I recommend that the pilot have a decent amount of experience with gyro helicopters and extensive knowledge of the care of RC Hobby Grade vehicles, and Lithium Batteries.
Closing
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is an Advanced Quadricopter with beginner modes suitable for 11-14 years and above. This drone can be very dangerous and it hard to control at High-Rates. Overall this drone is an advanced HD Quadricopter with a strong frame & Epo Magnet hull. It has a very nice design and is easy to control in beginner settings, but flip the rates to high you'd better be ready for some high speed action. This is a very nice Quadricopter if you know it's limits and most importantly your limits. Presenting the Parrot AR Drone 2.0
Any Questions please feel free to ask
