Parrot AR.Drone User manual

User guide
AR.Drone

Contents
Health and safety precautions
........................................................................................................................................1
Seizure warning
........................................................................................................................................1
Repetitive motion injuries and eyestrain
........................................................................................................................................2
Magnets
........................................................................................................................................2
Use and maintenance
........................................................................................................................................3
Warnings concerning the use of the battery
.............................................................................................................................................3Charging
.............................................................................................................................................3Usage and storage
.............................................................................................................................................4Battery disposal
.............................................................................................................................................4Extra batteries – protection against counterfeiting
........................................................................................................................................4
Domestic animals
Before you begin
........................................................................................................................................5
Contents of the packaging
........................................................................................................................................6
Downloading the applications
Getting Started
........................................................................................................................................7
Battery
.............................................................................................................................................7Recharging the battery
.............................................................................................................................................8Installing the battery
.............................................................................................................................................8Checking the battery charge of the iPhone
........................................................................................................................................8
Indoor usage
........................................................................................................................................9
Outdoor usage
........................................................................................................................................9
Connecting the iPhone to the AR.Drone
.............................................................................................................................................9Activating airplane mode
.............................................................................................................................................10Connecting the iPhone to the Wi-Fi network of the
AR.Drone
.............................................................................................................................................10Using the AR.Drone with several iPhones
........................................................................................................................................10
Meanings of the LED colours
.............................................................................................................................................11Motor LEDs
.............................................................................................................................................11System LED
........................................................................................................................................11
Settings
.............................................................................................................................................12Basic settings
.............................................................................................................................................13Advanced settings
........................................................................................................................................14
In the event of problems
.............................................................................................................................................14Checking the IP address of the AR.Drone
.............................................................................................................................................15Forgetting the Wi-Fi network
.............................................................................................................................................16Deactivating Wi-Fi mode
.............................................................................................................................................16Erasing the pairing memory of the AR.Drone
.............................................................................................................................................16Restarting the AR.Drone

Free flight
........................................................................................................................................17
Before you begin
.............................................................................................................................................17Positioning the iPhone
.............................................................................................................................................18Hand positions on the iPhone
.............................................................................................................................................18Colours of the LED lights
.............................................................................................................................................18Settings
........................................................................................................................................18
Taking off
........................................................................................................................................19
Piloting
........................................................................................................................................20
Landing
........................................................................................................................................20
Switching cameras
........................................................................................................................................21
Status icons
........................................................................................................................................21
Disconnections during the flight
.............................................................................................................................................21Distance
.............................................................................................................................................21Battery
.............................................................................................................................................21Phone calls / SMS
.............................................................................................................................................21Calendar events
.............................................................................................................................................22Interrupting the application
........................................................................................................................................22
In the event of problems
.............................................................................................................................................22The Emergency button
.............................................................................................................................................22The Reset button
General information
........................................................................................................................................23
Warning
........................................................................................................................................23
Warranty
........................................................................................................................................24
Changes to this User Guide
........................................................................................................................................24
Disposal of this product at the end of its life
........................................................................................................................................24
Declaration of Conformity
........................................................................................................................................25
FCC Compliance Statement
........................................................................................................................................25
Copyright
........................................................................................................................................25
Registered trademarks
........................................................................................................................................25
Safety instructions
........................................................................................................................................26
Caution: Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation
........................................................................................................................................26
Important safety instructions

Health and safety precautions1
Health and safety precautions
Read the following warning before you or your child play with the AR.Drone. Failing to do so may cause
injury.
Seizure warning
Some people (about 1 in 4000) may have seizures or blackouts triggered by light flashes or patterns,
such as while watching TV or playing video games, even if they have never had a seizure before;
Anyone who has had a seizure, loss of awareness, or other symptom linked to an epileptic condition
should consult a doctor before playing a video game.
Parents should watch when their children play video games. Stop playing and consult a doctor if you
or your child have any of the following symptoms: convulsions, eye or muscle twitching, loss of
awareness, altered vision, involuntary movements, disorientation.
To reduce the likehood of a seizure when playing video games:
- Sit or stand as far from the screen as possible.
- Play video games on the smallest available television screen.
- Do not play if you are tired or need to sleep.
- Play in a well-lit room (indoor) or area (outdoor).
- Take an 10 to 15 minute break every hour.
Repetitive motion injuries and eyestrain
Playing video games can make your muscles, joint, skin or eyes hurt after a few hours. Follow these
instructions to avoid problems such as tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, skin irritation or eyestrain;
- avoid excessive play. It is recommended that parents monitor their children for appropriate
play ;
- take a 10 to 15 minute break every hour, even if you don’t think you need it ;
- if your hands, wrists, arms or eyes become tired or sore while playing, stop and rest them for
several hours before playing again ;
- if you continue to have some hands, wrists, arms or eyes during or after paly, stop playing and
see a doctor.

2Health and safety precautions
Magnets
Not suitable for children under the age of 14. This product contains small magnets. If swallowed, the
magnets may stick together in the intestines and cause serious injury. Consult a doctor immediately if the
magnets are swallowed.
Use and maintenance
AR.Drone is not suitable for use by children under 14 years of age.
To fly the AR.Drone indoors install the hull in order to protect the AR.Drone in case of collision
with any object.
You should keep the Parrot AR.Drone in sight at all times when operating it, in order, among
others, to avoid injuries or damages to people, animals or property.
The use of the AR.Drone is some public areas (for instance train stations, trains, airports,
aircrafts, etc.) may be prohibited. You should check whether the use of the Parrot AR.Drone is
permitted before using it in public areas or public transport.
Always use your Parrot AR.Drone bearing in mind other people’s privacy.
When rotating, the propellers of the Parrot AR.Drone could cause injury to people, animals and
property. You should not touch the Parrot AR.Drone when propellers are rotating and should wait
until the propellers have completely stopped before handling the Parrot AR.Drone.
You should ensure that no-one is standing nearer than 1 meter (1 yard) from the Parrot AR.Drone
when in operation and that at all times you keep a sufficient distance between the propellers and
any person, animal or property.
You must keep the Parrot AR.Drone away from high voltage power lines, trees, buildings and any
other potentially dangerous or hazardous areas.
The Parrot AR.Drone’s performance may be affected or significantly reduced and your Parrot AR.
Drone irreversibly damaged if:
you use the Parrot AR.Drone in unfavourable meteorological conditions (including but not limited to
rain, wind, snow, fog, etc) or if visual conditions are not sufficient (e.g. operation of the Parrot AR.
Drone by night);
- you use the Parrot AR.Drone in wet conditions (e.g. you should not land the Parrot AR.Drone on
water or on a wet surface);
- you allow sand or dust to penetrate the Parrot AR.Drone;
- you obstruct the engine’s air vents;
- you use spare parts and accessories other than those specified by Parrot, or
- you use the Parrot AR.Drone near strong magnetic fields, radio waves or areas with strong
radiations (this may prevent the camera of the Parrot AR.Drone from operating correctly). You
should also avoid using your Parrot AR.Drone in areas subject to Wi-Fi® networks (such as for
instance internet Wi-Fi routers or boxes etc.). This may create interferences that could reduce
the performance of the Parrot AR.Drone.

Health and safety precautions3
Warnings concerning the use of the battery
Lithium Polymer batteries are extremely hazardous and liable to cause serious injuries to persons or
property. The user accepts liability for the use of a Lithium Polymer battery. As the manufacturer and
the distributor cannot ensure the battery is used correctly (charging, discharging, storage, etc.), they
cannot be held liable for damages caused to persons or property.
In the event of battery leakage, avoid the liquid coming into contact with skin and eyes. In case of
contact with the skin, wash copiously with soap and water. In case of contact with the eyes, rinse
copiously with cold water and consult a doctor. If you notice a suspicious smell or noise or observe
smoke around the charger, disconnect it immediately.
Non-compliance with the instructions below could result in gas being given off, fire, electric shock or
an explosion.
Charging
The Parrot battery shall only be used together with the Parrot charger. Examine the charger regularly
for damage to the cord, plug, enclosure or other parts. Never use a damaged charger. Never charge
a swollen battery, a leaky battery or one which has been damaged. Do not use the AR.Drone charger
to charge any other battery than the provided rechargeable battery.
Do not overcharge the battery. When the battery is fully charged, disconnect it from the charger. Do
not put the device back in the charger once charging has finished. You risk causing overheating.
Do not charge the battery near inflammable materials or on an inflammable surface (carpet, wooden
flooring, wooden furniture, etc.) or conducting surface. Do not leave the battery unattended during
charging.
Never charge the device immediately after use while it is still hot. Let it cool down to room
temperature. Do not charge the battery while it is still connected to the AR.Drone.
Batteries are only to be charged under adult supervision.
Do not cover your product or its charger while the battery is charging.
Exhausted batteries are to be removed from the item. Rechargeable batteries are to be removed
from the item before being charged. Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged.
Recharge the battery at a temperature of between 0°C and 40°C.
Usage and storage
Do not use the battery if the plastic cover has been torn or compromised in any way. Do not insert or
remove the battery while the power is on. Do not expose the battery to excessive physical shock.
Never use a swollen battery or a leaky battery, or one which is damaged or giving off a unusual
odour.
Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
Do not expose the battery to heat or dispose of a fire. Do not allow the battery to come into contact
with any kind of liquid. Do not leave your device out in the rain or near a source of moisture. Do not

4Health and safety precautions
put the battery in a microwave oven or in a pressurised container.
Do not attempt to dismantle, pierce, distort or cut the battery and do not attempt to repair the
battery. Do not place any heavy objects on the battery or charger. Avoid dropping the battery.
Do not clean the charger with a solvent, denatured alcohol or other inflammable solvents.
It is essential to avoid short circuits. Avoid direct contact with the electrolyte contained within the
battery. The electrolyte and electrolysis vapours are harmful to health.
Keep your device at ambient temperature. Do not expose your device to extreme temperatures. Do
not subject your device to large temperature variations. Do not place your product near a source of
heat.
Remove the battery when you are not using the device.
Disconnect the charger when you are not charging the battery.
Battery disposal
Discarding batteries in your general household waste can be harmful to the environment. Damaged or
unusable batteries must be disposed of in a container specially reserved for this purpose. When disposing
of the battery, follow appropriate local guidelines and regulations. For further information contact your local
solid waste authority.
Extra batteries – protection against counterfeiting
Using a counterfeit Lithium Polymer battery which does not meet the quality requirements defined by Parrot
can cause irreversible damages to the AR.Drone as well as serious injuries to persons or property.
If you purchased a spare battery or if you are uncertain about its genuineness, make sure
your battery contains this label, with 2 codes (different on each battery): one 6 digit code
and one 10 digit code.
Domestic animals
Avoid using the AR.Drone around domestic animals, particularly pet dogs. The AR.Drone incorporates an
ultrasound altimeter (emission frequency: 40kHz). Ultrasonic waves are known to disturb certain domestic
animals, most especially dogs. Using the AR.Drone in the company of a dog may lead to it behaving
erratically or perhaps even dangerously.

Before you begin5
Before you begin
Note: The iPod touch, iPhone and iPad will collectively be referred to as an "iPhone" in this manual.
Contents of the packaging
AR.Drone
Hull with guard rings
(for indoor use)
Hull without guard
rings
(for outdoor use)
Battery
Charger
Adaptors
Stickers
Remove the protective adhesive covers from the AR.Drone, the camera and the 2 hulls.
Keep the provided stickers. You will need to stick them on the indoor hull at the locations indicated
with the small markings before playing the AR.FlyingAce multi-player game.

6Before you begin
Downloading the applications
Login to the App Store and download the free applications for the AR.Drone.
AR.Free Flight
AR.Free Flight is the core application. It allows you to pilot the AR.Drone using your
iPhone.
It is designed to help you learn how to perform the basic flight movements (climbing,
descending, turning, reversing, advancing, etc.).
AR.FlyingAce
The AR.FlyingAce application brings you into a world of epic aerial dog-fights against
another AR.Drone on the same Wi-Fi network. This application will be made available
soon.

Getting Started7
Getting Started
Battery
Recharging the battery
1. Select the adapter corresponding to your country and place it on the transformer. It is essential that
you hear the sound that confirms a firm connection.
2. Connect the battery to the charger.
Warning: Do not insert the adaptor into the transformer by force.
3. Connect the power cable to the transformer and then plug it into the mains power supply.
Note: The charging time for the battery is 1 hour 30 minutes. The LED status light will turn green when
charging is complete.

8Getting Started
Installing the battery
1. Insert the battery into the appropriate compartment.
2. Make sure that it is correctly secured by using the
attachment mechanism.
3. Connect it to the AR.Drone.
Checking the battery charge of the iPhone
In order to use the AR.Drone under optimal conditions, make sure that your iPhone's battery is fully
charged. A weak or medium battery charge can lead to poorer performance of the AR.Drone
(responsiveness to commands, quality of the video feed, etc.).
Indoor usage
Avoid flying the AR.Drone close to young children, domestic animals or fragile objects.
Install the hull with the guard rings in order to protect the AR.Drone if it collides with another object.
Place the AR.Drone in the middle of a room (4m x 4m minimum) without obstacles. Step back to a
distance of 1 metre behind the device (the front of the device is easy to identify because of the
camera).
In the Settings panel of the AR.Free Flight application, deactivate the Outdoor Shell and Outdoor
Flight options.

Getting Started9
Outdoor usage
Do not use the AR.Drone in unfavourable meteorological conditions (rain, strong wind, snow) or if
visibility conditions are inadequate (at night).
Although the automatic pilot can compensate for some turbulence caused by wind, avoid flying the
AR.Drone in wind conditions of over 15 km/h.
Note: Keep in mind that the wind strength that you encounter where you are piloting the AR.Drone may
well be different from the wind strength where the AR.Drone is actually flying. This may explain any
unexpected changes in trajectory.
Install the hull without the guard rings.
Set the AR.Drone on a flat dry surface in an area without any obstacles. Step back to a distance of 1
metre behind the device (the front of the device is easy to identify because of the camera).
In the Settings panel of the AR.Free Flight application, activate the Outdoor Shell and Outdoor
Flight options.
Connecting the iPhone to the AR.Drone
Activating airplane mode
For improved ease of use, we recommend that you configure your
iPhone to run in flight mode. To do so, simply select Settings >
Airplane mode.

10Getting Started
Connecting the iPhone to the Wi-Fi network of the AR.Drone
1. Connect the AR.Drone's battery. Wait until the system
LED is green.
2. On your iPhone, select Settings > Wi-Fi.
> The list of available Wi-Fi devices will be displayed.
3. Select ardrone_parrot.
Note: The name by which the AR.Drone is known by your iPhone
and other Wi-Fi devices can be modified. Please refer to the
section on Basic settings for more information.
4. Wait until the network name is checked.
> The Wi-Fi logo will appear on the iPhone screen.
Note: Once the connection between your iPhone and the AR.Drone has been established, the two devices
are automatically paired. Only the iPhone that you have used to make the connection can be used with
that AR.Drone.
To use the AR.Drone with another iPhone, please refer to the Erasing the memory of the AR.Drone
section.
Using the AR.Drone with several iPhones
If you wish to use your AR.Drone with another iPhone, you must erase the memory of the AR.Drone.
Please refer to the section on Erasing the memory of the AR.Drone for more information.
Meanings of the LED colours
The LED lights (light emitting diodes) are the little red or green lights on the device. There are 2 types of
LED on the AR.Drone:
- the 4 motor LEDs located close to the propellers
- the system LED located on the belly of the AR.Drone.

Getting Started11
Motor LEDs
LED behaviour
Meaning
The 4 LEDs are red
Power is connected
Each LED flashes red, one after the
other
The motors are starting up.
The 4 LEDS flash green
The AR.Drone is currently taking off or landing.
The 2 front LEDs are green
The 2 rear LEDs are red
The AR.Drone is currently flying. These colours make it easy for
you to distinguish the front and the rear of the AR.Drone (when at
a distance from the device).
The 4 LEDS flash red and green
The memory of the AR.Drone has just been erased by pressing
on the Unpair button.
System LED
Wait for 20 seconds after having connected the battery to the AR.Drone, then check the colour of the
system LED.
Note: Avoid turning the AR.Drone upside down when you check the colour of the system LED. It is better
to simply raise it high enough to look underneath.
If the LED is green, you can take off.
If after 20 seconds the LED is either red or orange, disconnect then reconnect the battery.
Settings
Press on the icon to access the settings menu for the AR.Drone.
Button
Used for ...
Checking the modified settings
Resetting the initial central value to 0. Make sure that the AR.Drone is settled
on a flat surface before pressing this button.
Restoring the factory settings

12Getting Started
Basic settings
Option
Used for ...
Selecting the player profile.
Depending on your skills with the AR.Drone, select either the
Beginner mode or Ace mode (experienced).
When using Beginner mode, you have a joystick and
the navigation button. 2 hands are necessary for
controlling the AR.Drone.
When using Ace mode, the joystick and navigation
button are combined together. You can control the AR.
Drone with just a single hand.
Select the colour of your enemies when you are playing the
AR.FlyingAce game.
Modify the name by which the AR.Drone will be known as by
your iPhone and other Wi-Fi peripherals.
Note: You must exit the application, restart the AR.Drone,
and re-establish the connection with the iPhone for the new
name to be taken into account.
Restricting the maximum altitude of the AR.Drone.
If the option is activated, the AR.Drone will not be able
to exceed an altitude of 3 metres.
If the option is deactivated, the AR.Drone will be able to
climb as high as your Wi-Fi signal strength allows.
When the AR.Drone is on the point of exceeding that
limit, it will automatically redescend to a height of about
6 metres.
Note: We recommend that you keep this option activated
when your make your first flights with the AR.Drone.
Select the hull currently installed on the AR.Drone. Activate this
option if you have installed the outdoor hull (without guard
rings) on the AR.Drone.
Select the type of flight that you wish to make with the AR.
Drone.
Activate this option if you wish to use the AR.Drone outdoors,
especially if there is any wind.

Getting Started13
Advanced settings
We recommend that you not modify these settings during your
first flights with the AR.Drone. Wait until you are sufficiently
experienced before you make piloting of the AR.Drone more
responsive.
Before starting to modify these settings, make sure you fully
understand the 3 types of movement described in the adjacent
diagrams: Pitch, Roll and Yaw.
Option
Used for ...
Defining the sensitivity of the iPhone accelerometer.
If this value is high, a large tilting of the iPhone will be
necessary to control the AR.Drone.
If this value is low, then only a slight tilting will be
necessary to control the AR.Drone.
Define the maximum tilting that the AR.Drone will assume
when moving forwards or backwards.
If this value is high, the pitch of the AR.Drone will be
larger.
If this value is low, the pitch of the AR.Drone will be
smaller.
Note: This setting influences the acceleration behaviour. If the
pitch is large, the AR.Drone will gain speed much faster.
Define the speed of rotation
of the AR.Drone.
Slide the cursor to the right
to increase this speed.

14Getting Started
Define the vertical climb and descend
speed of the AR.Drone. Slide the cursor
to the right to increase this speed.
Adjust the neutral command position for the AR.Drone.
Select the Auto option for this setting to be set
automatically.
Select the Manual option to modify this setting
manually.
- the higher the Trim Pitch value, the higher will
be the neutral position for pitch.
- the higher the Trim Roll value, the higher will
be the neutral position for roll.
In the event of problems
Checking the IP address of the AR.Drone
Check the IP address of the AR.Drone after establishing the connection. To do so, simply select Settings
> Wi-Fi then press on the right arrow on the “AR.Drone” network line.
An IP address starting with 192.168.1.X should appear in the IP field.
If the IP address starts with 169, connection between the iPhone and the
AR.Drone will not be possible.
Such an incorrect IP address may be caused by 3 problems:
Problem
Corrective action
The iPhone and the AR.Drone are
too far apart
1. Move closer to the AR.Drone
2. Deactivate Wi-Fi mode.
3. Restart the AR.Drone.
4. Reconnect the iPhone with the AR.Drone.

Getting Started15
The Wi-Fi signal is interrupted
1. Make sure you are not using the AR.Drone in an area
subject to many Wi-Fi networks (such as internet Wi-Fi
routers or boxes etc.). This may create interferences
that could reduce the performance of the AR.Drone.
2. Deactivate Wi-Fi mode.
3. Restart the AR.Drone.
4. Reconnect the iPhone with the AR.Drone.
The AR.Drone has already been
used with another iPhone
1. Erase the pairing memory of the AR.Drone.
2. Deactivate Wi-Fi mode.
3. Reconnect the iPhone with the AR.Drone.
The AR.Drone is already currently
connected to another iPhone
1. Deactivate Wi-Fi mode on the other connected iPhone.
2. Erase the pairing memory of the AR.Drone.
3. Connect the new iPhone to the AR.Drone.
Note: If you have several AR.Drones, think about changing the names by which they are recognised by
other Wi-Fi peripherals.
Forgetting the Wi-Fi network
Select the Wi-Fi network generated by the AR.Drone then press on Forget this network.

16Getting Started
Deactivating Wi-Fi mode
Deactivate and then reactivate Wi-Fi on your iPhone.
Erasing the pairing memory of the AR.Drone
1. Press the Unpair button using a fine-tipped object. You should hear a little "click".
> The 4 LEDs located on the motors will flash alternately red and green.
2. On the 1st connected iPhone, turn the Wi-Fi off and back on.
> You can now connect the 2nd iPhone to the AR.Drone.
Restarting the AR.Drone
To restart the AR.Drone, just disconnect and
reconnect the battery.

Free flight17
Free flight
Warning: Make sure that you have securely connected the AR.Drone battery and that the motor LEDs are
green before connecting your iPhone to the Wi-Fi network of the AR.Drone and before starting a flight
application.
Run the AR.Free flight application to use the AR.Drone in free flight mode.
> The motor LEDs will flash red, one after the other.
> The video feed from the AR.Drone's forward-facing camera will appear on the screen of your iPhone.
Before you begin
Positioning the iPhone
Beyond a certain threshold point (~90°
compared to horizontal), movements are not
recognised by the iPhone's accelerometer.
We recommend that the iPhone be held in a
position close to horizontal in order to avoid an
uncomfortable or ineffective position if you
should need to move the AR.Drone backwards
quickly.
The position of the iPhone at the moment when
you press on the left button is taken as its
reference position.