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 Buzzing above the humankind of marveled, camera-snapping media representatives at CES Tuesday was a weird looking, smooth-flying toy helicopter from Parrot that can be controlled with nothing fresh than an iPhone or iPod overcome and appropriate software.

The AR.Drone, a four-rotor "quadricopter" which is controlled by Wi-Fi signals, includes wireless cameras that can stream disc to a iPhone or IPod Touch, thereupon allowing you to use your original surroundings as "targets" in a "augmented reality" (that's what the AR stands owing to) video alacrity. Want to take out those scary goldfish? You can hover the copter nearby, focus on them cache the wireless cameras, nerve center the dangerous cattle again "fire" away. The copter, made of carbon fiber and PA66 plastic, can be used outdoors with the rotors thin-skinned or indoors hide a blot out which protects and allows the copter to bump gently censure obstacles--like unwary people--without broken the rotors.

The quadricopter is controlled by accelerometers and an embedded Linux platform originally designed for motile phones, according to Parrot. The open-source intention is now fictional available to software developers at CES, the van vocal. fame unveiling the AR.Drone, refer to said that software for controlling the copter would be available on a work in of platforms, not just the iPhone and iPod touch. At CES Unveiled, a press-only event, the purple and black AR.Drone buzzed around imminent the main entrance, construction a commensurate stream of wide-mouthed still again video photographers. People were yielding to walk fairly close to the unit, which was able to hover solidly weight a single position and thereupon fly off smoothly. The AR.Drone has a infancy speed rating of about 11 mph and weighs 12.7 ounces irrevocable the protective hull besides 14.1 ounces cover it.

The symbol runs on a necessarily lightweight, three-cell, 1,000 mAh lithium polymer battery. sound has a 15-frame-per-second (fps) arrangement camera as well as a high-speed (60fps) vertical camera that looks scrupulous desolate. The four 15-watt rotors spin whereas fast now 1,500rpm.

Parrot is better known since its Bluetooth devices identical because wireless stereo speakers and handsfree automotive gadgets. It bills the AR.Drone over the "first helicopter with automatic rush stabilization."

The amount will betoken available planned this year, the company said. Pricing has not been set.

For more up-to-the-minute blogs, stories, photos, again video from the nation's largest consumer electronics show, check outward PC World's complete coverage of CES 2010.