When comparing Parrot AR Drone 2.0 vs 3DR IRIS, the Slant community recommends Parrot AR Drone 2.0 for most people. In the question“What are the best drones for hacking?” Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is ranked 1st while 3DR IRIS is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is:
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is very popular with modders and hackers and has large communities with events such as [NodeCopter.js](http://nodecopter.com/), a full days event where developers team up in groups of 3 to hack.
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Pros
Pro Has a large community
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is very popular with modders and hackers and has large communities with events such as NodeCopter.js, a full days event where developers team up in groups of 3 to hack.
Pro Many tools for hacking and modding already exist
The team at NodeCopter team have assembled a list of modules that can be installed on the AR Drone 2.0 such as face recognition or controlling it via your web browser. There is also SkyJack, a program for using your AR Drone 2.0 to hunt down and take control of other Parrot Drones. It uses a Raspberry Pi with an Alfa AWUS036H wireless adapter in order to interact with the WiFi networks of other drones around yours.
Pro The option Flight Recorder GPS adds useful functionality
As an optional purchase of about 127 USD, the Flight Recorder GPS can be added to the AR Drone via the USB port which adds a multitude of capabilities such as geolocation, selecting destination via a map, recording with a 4GB flash memory, returning to take-off point as well as stability improvements.
Pro Great value for money (~$300 USD)
For the amount of features you get with the AR Drone 2.0, the price is excellent compared to the other drones. For about 300 USD(or 420 USD with the GPS addon) you receive all the basic and some advanced features of most drones for about half the price.
Pro Easy to use
The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is incredibly easy to use as it is flown just by using your iPhone or Android device. There are no complicated controls and it is easy to connect, just join the Drones network, launch the app and fly.
Pro Easy to setup and use
The IRIS comes prebuilt and is easy to use right out of the box. By using the included 3DR Telemetry radio and Android OTG cable, all you have to do is plug the cable in and use the free mission planner to easily plan out your flight and use the emergency return home and flight monitoring features. You can also use your phone or laptom to control the IRIS's flight plan.
Pro Higher payload capacity
The IRIS is slightly more powerful than other drones which means it can carry a weight of 400 grams or a GoPro. This allows you to add more components or even a larger battery for additional flight time or to power additional devices.
Pro Excellent camera mounting options
The IRIS comes with an integrated mount for a GoPro, meaning you do not need a gimbal for filming. It includes a vibration dampener for smooth video. For better filming you can purchase the Tarot brushless gimbal with better vibration resistance and a "lock-on" feature which keeps the camera pointed at the target of interest no matter where you fly.
Pro Uses the Pixhawk flight controller
The Pixhawk is an advanced contoller from 3D Robotics with a processing power that is 20 times faster than their previous controller. It comes with features like *nix-like programming environment, new autopilot functions, airspeed sensor, among others.
Cons
Con Underpowered out of the box
For the cheaper price, the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is less powerful out of the box. It lacks power, has a limited range and doesn't have a built in GPS. Out of the box the drone can only carry about 8 grams, which is extremely small compared to the other drones.The range can be increased with a simple range extender and the GPS extender can be bought from the website, but in order to improve the power, a motor and frame mod will have to be done, which is detailed in this video.
Con Very high price
With the base model costing about 750 USD, the IRIS is a very expensive option compared to something like the Parrot AR Drone. That's not including the $220 camera gimbal, $300 GoPro 3, and varying replacement parts you need. The costs on this drone add up quick which could seriously affect the IRIS as a buying option for most people.
Con Adding something other than a camera will be more difficult
Despite the easy camera mounting options, due to the shape of the IRIS adding your own payload, such as a small computer or antenna will probably involve rubber bands and duct tape.