Parrot AR.Drone: Enhancing the Flying Experience

LOS ANGELES, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- E3 Expo -- Parrot, leaders in wireless peripherals for mobile phones, revolutionised the video gaming world by creating the AR.Drone, the first flying object in Augmented Reality piloted through Wi-Fi.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110607/NY15666 )

Today Parrot goes even further with a number of announcements to enhance the piloting experience for players and fans alike:

• More playable platforms: Parrot AR.Drone is now compatible with OS Android^™ Smartphones, bada (Samsung) and Symbian (Nokia)

• More games: Challenge your piloting skills on your own customised circuits, zigzag your way through trees, inflatable pylons and donuts and race against the clock with AR.Race, a customizable single or multi-player racing game for the AR.Drone.

There will be more surprises to add to the growing catalogue of games for the AR.Drone soon.

• More interactions: Who will be the No. 1 AR.Drone pilot 2011? Parrot has set up the AR.Drone Challenges, an international competition* taking place from June 24, through August 14, 2011 and consist of three challenges for a chance to compete in the October 2011 grand final in Paris.

*Competition is open to over 18's only. Available regulations on www.ardrone.com.

For more information, visit www.parrot.com.

More playable platforms: Android^™, bada and Symbian

Android^™ Smartphones users will find a free version of AR.FreeFlight's piloting application developed by Parrot in July 2011 on the Android Market.

At the same time, Playsoft Games - for Samsung - and Nokia used the Parrot AR.Drone Software Development Kit (available for free at https://projects.ardrone.org) to develop "Free Flight" (bada) and "AR.Drone" (Symbian) piloting apps.

The SDK allows new developers to create new applications for the AR.Drone across iOS, Android^™, bada or Symbian platforms.

More games: Create customised circuits with AR.Race

AR.Race is a racing game that allows one-to-four pilots to challenge themselves on the same circuit constituted by their natural environment, such as trees, or inflatable items (pylons and donut) to zigzag between trees, by-pass pylons or to get through the donut.

• Game is available today for FREE on the App Store(SM)^,
• Accessories are available on www.parrotshopping.com.
  • Pack of 2 pylons and 1 finishing line: $59.99
  • 1 Donut: $49.99
• Watch the AR.Race video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEvmaU7chbM

Still to come: Parrot will launch a brand new game involving two players and a single AR.Drone.

A confrontation between the man and the machine, a track race where the target is not necessarily the one suspected.

More interactions: AR.Drone Challenges

After registering at www.ardrone.com, the participants* will be invited to compete against other AR.Drone enthusiasts in three "video" challenges, revealed online on June 24, July 8 and July 22. Pilots will have to film their expertise and response to the challenges, and post their videos on a website or social sharing platform before August 14, 2011. The top 14 finalists will compete in the grand international final, on October 1, 2011 in Paris.

*Competition is open to over 18's only. Available regulations on www.ardrone.com

About PARROT

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, stands on the cutting edge of innovation. The company was founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux as part of his determination to drive the inevitable breakthrough of mobile phones into everyday life by creating high-quality, user-friendly wireless devices for easy living. Parrot has developed the most extensive range of hands-free systems on the market for cars, motorbikes and scooters, including wireless multimedia products geared towards audiovisual applications. In 2008, Parrot launched a new prestigious line of high-end products bearing the hallmark of renowned artists and in 2010, the AR.Drone, the first quadricopter piloted via wi-fi and using augmented reality. Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs more than 500 people worldwide and generates 85 percent of its sales overseas. Parrot is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris since 2006. (FR0004038263 – PARRO)

More information: www.parrot.com / www.ardrone.com / www.parrotoem.com

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SOURCE Parrot Inc.