ACAL Technology helps Parrot to create the world’s first iPhone Drone for augmented-reality gaming

ACAL’s expertise in wireless sensor design contributed to the development of the AR.Drone’s auto-pilot system which stabilises the drone’s flight, allowing the player to focus on their gaming experience. For the inertial guidance system, ACAL recommended a Bosch BMA150 3-axis accelerometer which works in conjunction with a 2-axis gyrometer and a 1-axis yaw gyrometer to provide the data for the auto-pilot. Initially the AR.Drone used a QFN-packaged accelerometer, but ACAL suggested migrating to the LGA-packaged BMA150. This reduced both the power consumption and cost, whilst providing additional design flexibility and continuity of supply over an extended manufacturing period.

François LEBRETON, for Parrot explains; “Having worked with ACAL on other projects, we had confidence in their ability to respond quickly on both a commercial and technical level. This has helped us to achieve first-to-market status for this innovative and very complex product.”
ACAL Technology’s David Dufour adds; “This is an incredibly exciting product for which the selection of the accelerometer was crucial. The Bosch BMA150 was the optimum choice to meet the ambitious performance targets as well as providing the lowest cost base for the lifetime of the device and ensuring optimum protection from extended delivery times.”

The AR.Drone is a remote-controlled four-bladed helicopter (quadricopter). As the player moves the iPhone, the AR.Drone tracks the movements and streams real-time video, from a camera mounted on the front of the drone, onto the iPhone’s screen. In addition to providing live video feedback of the AR.Drone’s flight, the camera also functions as the virtual camera when the AR.Drone is used in virtual gaming. Combining real-time video of the player’s surroundings with virtual gaming elements creates augmented-reality games for a single player or for multiple players to compete against each other over a WiFi® network.

Measuring 20” across, including the removable collision-protection hull, the AR.Drone can fly at up to 11.2 miles per hour and detect 3D tags at distances of up to 5 meters. Parrot implemented the embedded computer system as an ASIC based on an ARM9 468 MHz processor and integrating WiFi b/g, Hi-Speed USB and a Linux operating system. In addition to a total of seven sensors, the AR.Drone integrates two cameras and an ultra-sound altimeter.