Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 25th 2010 12:49PM
posted May 25th 2010 12:49PM
If you've been chomping at the bit to get your hands on the AR.Drone iPhone controlled, augmented reality-sporting, WiFi quadricopter (and you know we have been) we've good news for you. According to a brief blip on Parrot's Facebook page, the thing will get its official US launch, complete with pricing and street date, at E3 come June 15. Sort of makes WowWee's Tinkerbell look silly in comparison, don't it?
Update: As our main man Kefs has pointed out, the gang at Parrot demoed the AR.Drone Android client at Google I/O lastmonth week. Now we're waiting on news of a BlackBerry client -- which we sure hope makes the scene at E3! See it in action after the break.
Update: As our main man Kefs has pointed out, the gang at Parrot demoed the AR.Drone Android client at Google I/O last
SWEEEEEET!!!!!!
@barry99705
Found a new toy for my Nexus 1.
Price?
@Beatnik Yea, hopefully they'll have ironed out the bugs in the Android software by then. If not, I've still got my iPod!
AR.Drone + Laser = Force Win
@Lord Vader
you could use those to check out the planet hoth for rebels.
@Wiggy Fuzz. Indeed, hopefully this can fly faster than 0.1 mph and doesn't make weird bleeping noises that notify the Rebels it is near
@Lord Vader
Do not fool yourself Vader. You and that fool Palpatine will find some way to botch this. Like so many of your other projects.
Need I remind you Vader to not be too proud of this technological terror you've yet constructed. The ability to observe rebels is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
@Lord Vader
I would ADD a camera, so it can serve better to the Dark Side.
Oh, dont forget some laser ray guns.
@Beatnik It already has two cameras, how many does it really need?
@DarthBane
Watch it, you're about to get choked and spit out an egg yolk.
@Funke Tobias Dr
I have nothing to fear from a mere apprentice. His master could barley hold a candle to the powers I dealt with.
If I can control it with my Pre, then bring it.
@sweet greggo
That shouldn't be a problem. As far as I remember, the control scheme uses a proprietary set of commands that can be coded onto mostly any platform. Check out their webpage for more info if you like :)
@sweet greggo If you admit to owning a Pre, you blew it.
@Steve2000
Probably the worst use of that meme to date.
How does this fit in with E3?
@JamRoc18
Who cares we just want it NOW!
@JamRoc18 ELECTRONICAL ENTERTAINMENT ...
@JamRoc18 You play a game with this while looking through it's camera on your phone they talk about it on their site.
@Diko
electronical isn't a real word.
Did James Cameron have something to do with this?
@esposimi It would have been blue...
Hey, my cats love their hovering tinkerbell!
This guy made it better: http://vimeo.com/6194911
@Dredog
holy shit, that thing is a weapon
@Dredog
Og God, that's brilliant! DO WANT! The sound it makes.. the speed.. the chubby German guy.. No, wait! Scratch that last one :P
Oooh! The instructions and CAD-files are free to download! *evil laugh*
If you can control this and have it stream live video to your phone or laptop I would be very interested
@admlshake
You just described the exact functionality of the product! :) Plus, you can shoot down virtual enemies with it through augmented reality (thus, AR.Drone)!
Wow, that was one quick reediting Engadget. Nicely done. :-)
@SeeKo Yes, SeeKo, one must be on top of their game when giving credit where it's due... and when deleting trollish comments.
its funny because all the new gadgets seem to be coming out after my exams and birthday!!
thanks for the update.. btw.. IO was last week, not last month.
want, now!
@Joseph L Flatley hehe.. heya.. i wasnt trolling.. i visit daily, i just dont comment.. i notice a huge apple bias, and thought i should alert you. thx for updating.
If you have ever tried to fly a remote controlled helicopter, you would know how hard it is just to make the thing hover in one spot. This is awesome!
pretty slick i must say!
FINALLY!
Wow I was just looking for a pricing on these today. You read my mind Engadget
People who think this is cool should look up the Gaui 330X. It should also be on sale already.
@jyu0 Kind of spendy though. That and you can't fly that one with your iPhone or Android based phone.
Tinkerbell looks stupid with out a comparison
Umm... Price?
@Corvair64
Nvrmnd... reread and saw it's to be announced at E3 (duh).
When I saw this for the iPhone I almost peed myself (had a 3G then) looks like its come back to finish the job (Droid now)
Kickass!
@Darkroom If it's the real deal, then expect $2000 and up for options. If it's less than $2000 it will be mediocre at best, and not game worthy. If it's less than $1000 than the technology included will be sufficient for stable hovering and not much more, and the video equipment will be lackluster.
You should all save yourselves the wait and time...DIY'ers go here: mikrokopter.de RTF'ers go here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1248238
@Smoky
I hope you understand that the rotors are plastic and the guard is foam. This is not a $2000 device and doesn't have the range or power of something like that. It uses a cheap usb webcam and batteries. The link you gave showed a $350 device and the AR Drone looks cheaper then that. $225 makes more sense to me! They could probably sell it for $150.
now i will show my neighbor cat.
@SiXiam They probably could, but I don't expect to see them under $300.
I have two questions still: how many can i get flying in the same room, and when will there be a windows client?