CES2013: Parrot Introduces Flight Recorder GPS For AR Drone 2.0

Parrot announced a new GPS-enabled USB stick accessory, allowing the AR Drone 2.0 to execute autonomous waypoint-driven flights and to record those flights to an onboard USB stick.  Read on for details.

Parrot announced a new GPS-enabled USB stick accessory, allowing the AR Drone 2.0 to execute autonomous waypoint-driven flights and to record those flights to an onboard USB stick.  The new Flight Recorder accessory is compatible with MAVLink, an open-sourced communication protocol that allows you to utilize PC/Mac software like QGroundControl to set flight waypoints and download them to your AR Drone 2.0.  Plan a flight path in QGroundControl, save it to the Flight Recorder, plug Flight Recorder into your AR Drone 2.0 and watch it fly the waypoints on its own, recording the whole time.  The GPS data is added to the in-flight telemetrics already being captured and will be loaded to the Flight Academy once you land and upload your flights.  Here is a quick video to explain it:

Here is some more information from Parrot’s Flight Recorder webpage:

FLIGHT RECORDER

Geolocate your AR.Drone 2.0 with this GPS enabled device, keep track of its position and store your videos in its built-in flash memory.

• Modelize your flights in 3D on the AR.Drone Academy map
• 4GB built-in flash memory to store more than 2 hours of HD video and flight data
• Plug and play USB connection

USB RECORD

• 4GB BUILT-IN FLASH MEMORY

The Flight Recorder comes with 4Gb built-in flash memory so that you can store more than 2 hours of HD video in it.
The USB connection ensures that there is no loss of video while you are flying even if out of WiFi range of your smartphone/tablet.
In addition a secondary USB plug lets your extend this flash memory with another USB flash storage device whenever more storage space is required.

• PLUG & PLAY USB CONNECTION

No configuration required. Place the Flight Recorder on top of the battery and secure it with the strap. Then simply connect it to the USB plug of the AR.Drone 2.0 and you’re all set!

CREATE FLIGHT PLANS FOR YOUR AR.DRONE 2.0

The Flight Recorder is compliant with the MAVLink open source communication protocol making it compatible with applications such as QGroundControl.  You can either create your flight plans ahead or set them in real time from your PC ground station. You can also take back control at any time by connecting to your AR.Drone 2.0 using AR.FreeFlight like you would normally do.  QGroundControl is a free open source Windows, Linux and Mac OS X application that lets you create flight plans. Simply place waypoints in 3 dimensions on a map to create a route that your AR.Drone 2.0 will follow autonomously.

Here are some product shots of the Flight Recorder:

This is a great addition to the Parrot AR Drone 2.0, which I really love to fly.  Adding this dimension of autonomous flight, and adding GPS data to the telemetrics already tracked in the Academy, is a very welcome development.  As soon as this is available, I’ll let you know (right after I place my order!) and I’ll let you know how well it works.