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iPhone controlled AR Drone headed to the UK

Parrot, creators of the carbon fibre and plastic constructed AR Drone, has let slip thatthe iPhone-controlled quadricopter is headed to the UK later in the year priced at £299.The drone, which was demoed at CES in Las Vegas in January this year, has four rotors and can be controlled by an iPhone , iPod Touch or iPad by using Wi-Fi technology to link the control device to the drone.
Written by Ben Woods, Contributor

Parrot, creators of the carbon fibre and plastic constructed AR Drone, has let slip that the iPhone-controlled quadricopter is headed to the UK later in the year priced at £299.

The drone, which was demoed at CES in Las Vegas in January this year, has four rotors and can be controlled by an iPhone , iPod Touch or "http:="" www.zdnet.co.uk="" reviews="" mobile-internet-devices="" 05="" apple-ipad-40088890="" "="">iPad by using Wi-Fi technology to link the control device to the drone.

An on-board video camera keeps the pilot in full control and micromechanical accelerometers, gyros, an ultrasonic sensor and two video cameras allow the drone to be controlled simply by tilting the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. If Wi-Fi connection is lost between controller and drone, the autopilot takes over and levels out the aircraft; the same as when the user removes his or her hands from the controls on the iPhone/iPod screen.

The craft comes with two different hulls providing differentiation and protection for the ship while playing games such as AR.Flying.Ace, a multiplayer game designed to allow two drones to dogfight.

The main flight control app is available for free on the iTunes app store (AR.Free.Flight) but the company hopes to build a community of developers by freely distributing the piloting source code to third-parties that want to produce new games for the system.

It has been designed for indoor as well as outdoor use and the company says that users can expect between 13 and 15 minutes of flight before the batteries need recharging, a process that takes 90 minutes. Naturally, you'll also need an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to control the drone.

Parrot isn't saying exactly when the drone will hit the UK but ElectricPig has said that it will set UK customers back £299 at launch.

Update: Parrot has been in touch to let us know that the Drone will be launching in the UK on the 18 August.

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