The iFixit crew recently disassembled a fully functional Parrot AR.Drone to see what makes it tick. From the teardown you may notice that the hardware seems pretty accessible. The gear’s just begging for a mod. Here are some highlights:
- You might notice the lack of a controller with this awesome gadget. That’s because the controls are managed via an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad by using AR.Free Flight, an application available for download in the Apple App Store.
- Much of the AR.Drone’s body is made of expanded polypropylene (EPP), a common substance that is both extremely light and easily manufactured into complex shapes.
- The two large mesh cylinders make up the ultrasound altimeter, which stabilizes the quadricopter within 6 meters of the ground.
- These are not your run-of-the-mill propellers. The design team behind these won a micro drone design contest put on by the French Army.
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