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Parrot SWING VTOL Drone – First Look and Review

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Introduction

I recently purchased a Parrot Swing VTOL Drone (quadcopter) along with the Bluetooth Controller pad. The Swing is remarkable in that it is very different than any Drone currently on the market…due to the VTOL abilities. For the uninitiated, that means it can take off and land (and fly) like a quadcopter, but it has X-shaped wings which can then allow it to fly like an airplane. VTOL will be a big part of the future of drones due to the longer distances and larger payloads they will be able to haul.

Let’s be very clear – the Parrot Swing is a “toy grade model” with brushed motors, yet at the same time it’s head and shoulders above any toy grade machine I’ve ever operated. It has many options – flying forwards, backwards, at different angles and even programmable flights (looks, circles, etc.

It can be operated with a mobile phone attached – or not. The mobile device is mostly for settings and other such monitoring and changes since it does not have a front facing camera. There is a tiny (and poor quality) camera on the rear which is part of the “ground sensing” system. In other words, it has a “VPS system” using sound waves and the rear camera to allow it to know when it is close to the ground – an option usually only seen on much more expensive machines.

At launch the Parrot Swing sold for approx. $130, but they have now come down to about 50% of that price. Refurbs can be purchased for even less, sometimes as low as $40 or less. You’ll have to buy at least one extra battery to get the hang of this machine as you don’t want to have to go out to the field and have only 10-12 minutes of flying.

Note: the Youtube Video Embedded at the bottom of this article will repeat a lot of the written information here – and go much further into some details. You’ll see the model in flight and get a much better idea of how it works!

Parrot Swing (new) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pHi7xF

Parrot Swing Refurb at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pHi7xF

3 pack generic batteries and charger – https://amzn.to/2pHi7xF

Who and What it is for

The Parrot Swing is not a camera drone or a “FPV or Racing model. It is unique and the VTOL aspect is the major feature. [Read more…]

Parrot lays off Hundreds after Slow Drone Sales- Why they are losing the Drone Wars

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Is Parrot the Canary in a Coal Mine…or, simply a bird that failed to fly properly?

Recent news stories such as this one at Marketwatch have reported sagging drone sales and massive layoffs at the French Drone maker Parrot. In this article we delve a little deeper in the stories behind the story.

Parrot was my first love. Back in 2012 I heard about these “drones” and watched an online video of the AR Drone flying out of one window of an office building and back into another. I was hooked – and, in fact, started in the hobby as the result of seeing what this drone could do…

Or couldn’t do – which turned out to be the case. Sadly, the story of Parrot and their consumer drones is turning out to be a classic tale which perfectly reflects our own personal experiences with the brand. The French company announced today that it was laying off about 1/3 of its employees after poor drone sales in the latest quarter. One story (at the Verge) mistakenly references “due to industry downturn” – where, in fact, there is no such case. The Consumer Drone Industry is booming and sales are expected to be up 50 to 80% in 2017. The problem for Parrot is that those sales are being made by DJI and to a lesser extent by Autel and Yuneec.

Our Personal Experience with Parrot Products

As mentioned above, the AR Drone was the first flying robot I lusted after – and, so, I plunked down my $300 and bought one direct from the Parrot online shop. After receiving it. I read the manual, charged the battery, downloaded the operating app and headed outside for the maiden flight. I set the drone down on the sidewalk and hit the “takeoff” button on the app – the motors fired up and the drone took over and hovered at about 3 feet high – while I stood there marveling at it’s intelligence. Never before had I seen a craft just hover in the air under computer control – so this was like the Holy Grail to someone who flew model rockets and was a HAM/Computer/Tech freak for decades!

First Flight of my AR Drone - 2012

First Flight of my AR Drone – 2012

That, unfortunately, was the high point in my Parrot Drone experience. I spent the next couple of days chasing the AR Drone around the neighborhood trying to make it land – even using the emergency shutoff (didn’t work) when it flew away. The upside is that I got a couple pictures from REALLY high up. The downside was that it completely failed as a consumer device. If you had to give it a 1 to 10 rating it would be a 1 or a 2 – 2 being generous.  [Read more…]

10 Best Quadcopters and best drones for 2017

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Which are the best drones and quadcopters to buy as of the  Spring of 2017? Read on!

UPDATED April, 2017 – We update this “best drones” listing regularly as new products are released and reviewed.
If you are looking for a ($400-$1500) “stabilized camera drone with GPS” – we have another article comparing the popular 2016/2017 models here.

Please note – one of the top pics in the 1K range, the DJI Mavic Pro, has been far backordered since launch in Oct, 2016 but is now available for quick shipment direct from DJI – click the banner below for current lead times:

Here are some of suggested best drones and quadcopters for 2017

Please note that some of these are not for beginners! Rather they are upgrades after you’ve learned the basics of flying and know exactly what features you desire. Quads best for beginners are marked with an *

We do not suggest the very tiny “nano” thumb size quadcopters for learning or beginners! Here is why.

We currently DO NOT recommend the following brands – 3D Robotics, Walkera, OnagoFly, GoPro. Also, we have had poor luck with Parrot models in the past – however, we are going to look at more current models soon to see if reliability has changed. Also, be wary of ANY crowdfunded (Kickstarter, etc.) models.

Be sure to pick up at least one extra battery and any spares you may want to have on hand (motors, etc.)

Under $100

Micro-Sized – generally the size of your open hand including the propellers

*Hubsan X4 H107L – updated version of the most popular micro- beginners should purchase the option prop guard.

Banggood Link (worldwide and/or US Shipping).

Read the Entire Article by clicking —>> [Read more…]

Parrot Disco Fixed-Wing Camera Drone for Immersive Flight

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(Author- Jeff Foster)

Who hasn’t dreamed of becoming a pilot? Sitting in the cockpit, stepping on the gas, taking-off and seeing the landscape pass right before their eyes Today, Parrot makes this dream accessible to everyone with Parrot Disco, the first easy-to-fly, fixed-wing drone designed for a fully immersive flight experience. The ultra-lightweight, Parrot Disco is powerful, reaching 50 mph and offering 45 min of flight time. [Read more…]

Did your Drone Crash? Maybe it’s not your Fault!

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Did your Drone Crash? Maybe it’s not your Fault!

“Learn how to fly”
“RTFM” (read the friggin manual).
“you didn’t know how to operate the product you bought”
“Too many drone pilots rely on GPS and have no experience flying a quad in manual”

These are just a few of the “blame the customer” type of comments that I read on various drone forums. The comments are often directed at fellow pilots who come onto those forums to report crashes and ask what they may have done wrong. Getting past the rude behavior of the respondents, let’s discuss crashes of modern drones and who or what may be at fault.

Toy Drone, FPV Racing Drones, etc.

First, let’s dispense with the very basic quadcopters typically priced from $20-$250. These are not truly “drones” in the proper use of the word since they ARE manually controlled by the operator. Reliability of these types of devices varies greatly and the unskilled operator is likely to crash…early and often!
It can be summarized that, in most cases, the crashing or loss (fly away) of this class of machines are due to one form or another of operator error. This may be a lack of judgement such as flying on windy days and/or in close proxity to obstacles…or simply a lack of basic piloting skills.
The same logic applies to most DIY (building a drone from parts) situations. There are too many variable involved in the parts, labor, design, etc. to hold the manufacturers liable for the mishaps.

GPS Camera Drones

The more sophisticated consumer drones available today sell for $300 – $2000+ and usually contain a stabilized camera as well as number of sensors and flight aids including GPS. Here is an article explaining the basics of what makes a camera drone fly. These machines are flying robots…a combination of computers and mechanical devices which, when properly combined, can make safe and reliable flight a possibility.
[Read more…]

Parrot BeBop Quadcopter Review – Part 1 of 3

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Our review of the Parrot BeBop Quadcopter will be done as a three part review. Subjects covered in the reviews parts are;

Part 1: initial look / open box / instruction review / setup / range and “radio” check / first flight / initial thoughts

Part 2: advanced flight / camera performance / flight time length / controls / movie and still photography / file retrieval (from BeBop to phone, tablet, or computer)

Part 3: WiFi performance testing / GPS function / acrobatic flight / cell and tablet performance / suggested improvements / final ratings

DroneFlyers.com purchased a Parrot BeBop from Best Buy…cost with tax was approx. $550. For that price you get more capabilities than with the earlier Parrot ARDrone 2.0.
This is a GPS enabled, video steaming UAS that is controlled by your own Smart Phone or WiFi Tablet.

Also note, DroneFlyers.com purchases every UAS we review, just like you would. We don’t want Manufacturers to send us a “pre-tested” model, we want exactly what you’d get from the store. By doing this we will give real results from field testing. We do not reprint Press Releases or copy what the manufacturer wants us to say about their bird.
[Read more…]

Parrot BeBop Quadcopter Drone Pre-Review Rundown

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As Promised, Parrot released their new BeBop Quadcopter at the beginning of December, 2014. The BeBop drone has been in development for over 2 years and contains some very innovative features at a reasonable price. The bigger question is – will it live up to it’s promise?

Note – we just added a First Look which touches on some important items involving the new Bebop.

[Read more…]

Parrot Rolling Spider Mini drone quadcopter- first look, review and rating

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Parrot was the first company to market a consumer drone – the AR Drone 1.0 – which was followed up by the more reliable and advanced AR Drone 2.0.
They are currently in the process of releasing 3 new products:
The BeBop – this is a HD camera equipped advanced quadcopter…the successor to the AR series.
The Rolling Spider Minidrone – a fun drone designed for just about anyone to use…inside or out. It uses bluetooth (limited range), but has many safety and advanced features.
The Jumping Sumo – a rolling Drone that spins, jumps and has a camera on board.

Of the three, only the Rolling Spider has been released at the time of this review (late August, 2014). Droneflyers.com immediately purchased one and has the following to report…
NOTE: This product not currently recommended due to bugs. Read on for more!

[Read more…]

Your FIRST AR Drone Modification should be landing gear!

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Ok, so you’ve decided to get an AR Drone! Congratulations and good flying…

BUT, before you take off with that machine, here is some advice which may help your drone last much longer. It’s a simple modification called the zip tie mod. You’ll find many examples of it by searching the web for “AR Drone zip tie mod”, but let me simplify this for you.

The AR Drone comes with feet which look like this:

Ar Drone Leg, Motor, ESC and Gears

Ar Drone Leg, Motor, ESC and Gears

Note that the AR Drone feet are hard plastic and also contain a number of sensitive parts, including the motor and a circuit board. A hard landing, which you will have MANY of, will eventually damage some of these components or even break the AR Drone cross frame. You can purchase custom foam landing covers on eBay, but IMHO the zip tie or similar mod will work better due to the better “give” of the material on a hard landing.

The mod is done using fairly long (cable) ties – start with some which have a length of at least 12″ or more and cut to size. Try not to use very heavy ones, as thinner ties add less weight to your quad and also will function a bit better as shock absorbers. With kudos to some who have come before me, here is a pic from parrot forum users Candu1 and UFO Doctor, who made these mods years ago and actually tested them scientifically!

Easy as Pie!

Easy as Pie!

OK, so the basic steps are:

1. Obtain cable ties and electrical tape.
2. Put tie around bottom of landing feet and pull tight.
3. Place end of tie (it may help to cut a point onto it) so it enters the hull right where the cross arm does – only insert in a small amount (1/2″ or less).
4. Wrap a small piece of electrical tape around the zip tie and crossarm to hold the tie to the arm.

Since the devil is always in the details, let me remind you of some issues….

1. Make sure the quad is perfectly level after installing these! Set it on a known flat surface and measure from the ground to the original landing feet. If you don’t do this right, your quad will be incorrectly calibrated when it boots up!

2. Don’t use too much tape – in fact, I might suggest cutting the tape in 1/2 lengthwise in order to save weight. If the tape breaks on a hard landing, that generally means it helped in shock absorbing – and it’s cheap enough to replace!

3. Some folks use small zip ties instead of, or in addition to, the electrical tape.

Once your AR Drone has this modification, it will be superior in just about every way – it will be able to land and take off in taller grass and on rougher surfaces also! The one caveat is that, if you tend to get your AR Drone stuck in trees often, that the zip legs can get hooked on branches and make it harder to recover. This is yet another reason for not using too much tape to secure the tie to the cross arms!

Pic by Keenmetal (HK)

Pic by Keenmetal (HK)

A basic video of this modification is shown below.

Note – below are the Amazon links for the AR Drone and some popular replacement parts, batteries,etc.

What is an AR Drone?

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AR Drone

The AR Drone is a four-rotor aircraft which combines many of the new and advanced technologies in R/C Flight. Parrot, the company behind the AR Drone is marketing the AR Drone as a “flying video game” since it combines actual flying of the aircraft, real time video streaming to the controller, and the ability to add real-time gaming with hunter-seeker style gaming. The newest model, 2.0, is a vast improvement on the original and is a great learning platform for those seeking to find out about the new world of multirotor aircraft.

drone2

Unlike the current crop of low-budget helicopters, the AR Drone is controlled by your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch or Android device via the AR Drone’s built-in WiFi system. The plus side of this system is that the cost of including a radio transmitter is eliminated but the downside is you are limited to the range of 802.11G Wifi signal which is about 150 feet. The AR is a “smart” drone and will be relatively easy to fly for beginners as it has advanced controls and software which do not require as much dexterity and practice as with atypical 2.4 GHZ radio controlled aircraft.

The AR Drone ships with an indoor hull that provides foam padding to protect the rotor blades during the inevitable bumping into things when flying indoors. However, in reality, this machine is not designed for indoor flying except in very large rooms. Our suggestion at Droneflyers is to use the AR Drone as an outside quadcopter.

Also included is an outdoor hull which is lighter weight providing faster speeds and slightly longer run times.
The AR Drone features a 3-axis accelerometer as well as a 2-access gyroscope. The sonar provides altitude stabilization up to about 20 feet. Above the range of the ultrasonic sonar, the drone goes into a blind-flight mode that requires more control input to maintain height. Radio range is limited by WiFi communication distance to about 150 feet.
The AR Drone 2.0 is outfitted with two color cameras. The front camera is HD resolution (720P) at 13 frames per second. The downward looking camera is QCIF resolution (176 x 144 pixels) at 60 frames per second.

The AR Drone is available from Brookstone, Amazon and other sources for about $300. This site will continue to provide you with up-to-date information, news, modification, hacks, and more.

Note – if you want to get started in the world of Quadcopters and Multirotors at a much lower price point, consider a model like the Syma X1 or similar sub-$60 models. You certainly will not get the cameras and all the advanced features of the AR Drone, but at the same time you may not cry as loudly when you lose your first quad up in a tall tree!

Below are some links to AR Drone quadcopters and parts at Amazon: