AR Drone augmented reality game with iPhone controlled flying camera wows CES
Remote controlled flying camera become worlds first real life shmup
If there's one thing iPhone is lacking, it's gaming accessories. We were promised them when the reigns were taken off Bluetooth in the 3.0 software update, but almost nothing has emerged.
It did manage to get Bluetooth device manufacturer Parrot interested in the iPhone, however, and the French company has been wowing attendees at this year's CES show. It's been showing off AR Drone, which is a wi-fi remote controlled flying device (a "quadriccopter") with two cameras mounted on it which you operate from an iPhone.
The vertical camera is used to measure speed, while ultrasonic sensors provide altitude data. A removable polystyrene hull is also provided for when you want to go flying outside. And it has a lot more than just voyeuristic value.
As well as the astonishing accelerometer remote control, the front camera feed is sent directly back to the iPhone's screen where an augmented reality shoot-'em-up is overlaid on the live image. There's even one-on-one dual and multiplayer battles.
So far, augmented reality has been gaining a lot of press but entertaining applications of the concept have been quite sparse. AR Drone looks set to change all that.
Check it out: