Parrot Announces The A.R. Drone 2.0 Power Edition

It was hovering. Just sitting there. The livery was different. A black body with different color blades. Something was clearly different abo...

It was hovering. Just sitting there. The livery was different. A black body with different color blades. Something was clearly different about this Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0. It wasn't as colorful as the ones he had seen before.

He sat there for a lot longer. This drone was clearly hiding something under the piano-black shell. Eight minutes passed. 16 minutes passed. Then, just before the 36 minute mark, the drone, nearly silently, returned over the trees.

But before he could react, another one appeared. And then another. A pair this time. Two second generation Parrot A.R. Drones. This time, instead of just hovering, the two made slow passes. Back and forth. Over and over.

He had seen this before. They were controlled, not by a smartphone, but by an internal black box and satellites high above. GPS. These modules were easy to obtain and configure, at just $130. He had previously learned that they connect to the drone’s USB ports and not only provide geo-location and route planning, but also record a lot of flight data.

He sat there a bit longer. A lot longer than normal. Soon he couldn't take it. The others were signaled. They downed the drone with a bed sheet. It fell harmlessly to the ground. He ran over and grabbed it. He knew one of the two cameras on the other drone had seen him. They had to. But he had to risk it anyway.

Soon the cover was off the drone. He was shocked. There were two 1,500 mAh batteries inside. Two. This was something new, indeed. That explains the longer flight time. It almost exactly matched that of the normal Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0 equipped with the new HD battery.

The black exterior was slick, he admitted, a touch impressed. The standard A.R. Drone 2.0 always looked like a toy to him. But the new paint job adds a menacing touch.

Suddenly, as if on commend, the drone’s colored blades whirled to life. Damn, he thought. I should have unplugged the Flight Recorder, as the drone rose quickly through the air. Apparently she discovered it was missing and activated the return home command built into the Flight Recorder. He was careless. 

About Parrot

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, stands on the cutting edge of innovation. The company was founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux as part of his determination to drive the inevitable breakthrough of mobile phones into everyday life by creating high-quality, user-friendly wireless devices for easy living.

Parrot has developed the most extensive range of hands-free systems on the market for cars. Its globally recognized expertise in the fields of mobile connectivity and multimedia around Smartphones has positioned Parrot as a key player of in-car infotainment.

Additionally, Parrot designs and markets a prestigious line of high-end wireless multimedia products in collaboration with some of the world’s most well-renowned designers. Finally, Parrot is expanding on the UAV market with the Parrot AR.Drone, the first quadricopter piloted via Wi-Fi and using augmented reality and so with new solutions to address the UAV market for professional use.

Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs more than 750 people worldwide and generates the majority of its sales overseas. Parrot is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris since 2006. (FR0004038263 – PARRO)