Next generation of flying quadricopter showcased

French company Parrot has showcased its next generation of flying quadricopter - Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 - that can be controlled by WiFi using a smartphone or tablet. "With a new high-definition camera, pilot can take photos or record videos and easily share them through YouTube or Picasa," Robin Nicloas, channel and purchasing manager at Parrot, said at a press conference. A second camera, placed beneath the quadricopter and connected to the central inertial unit, measures the craft's speed using an image comparison system. In 2010, Parrot launched its first quadricopter with Augmented Reality video games. Vanessa Loury, worldwide PR director at parrot, told Gulf News, "Parrot has sold around 250,000 units of its first generation A.R. Drone globally." She said: "Whilst in-flight, the AR.Drone 's front camera transmits what the quadricopter sees in real-time on the pilot's device screen." For gaming purposes, this camera can also recognise specific shapes and colours to show augmented-reality elements on the device's screen. The AR.FreeFlight 2.0 pilot application has been loaded on to an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. "Right now the product does not support Windows platform, but we have the software development kit [SDK] for developers and it is free," Loury said. A new pressure sensor allows the AR.Drone to fly higher than the previous model (up to 6 metres), while "the flying experience of the original AR.Drone was difficult," said Loury. "We still offer this mode for experienced flyers but the new mode makes flying the device much easier. We wanted to put it in everybody's hands," she said. The AR.Drone has 2 hulls with specially designed contours. Made of EPP (a material used in car bumpers), they are light, highly resistant and protect the quadricopter. For outdoor flight, the contoured hull, available in three colors (orange & yellow; orange & green; orange & blue), reduces wind resistance and preserves the Drone 2.0's handling and stability. When indoors, a second hull protects the blades from impact. Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 will be available from July with a price tag of Dh1,499.