home › Installation and configuration › Parrot mambo quadcopters move backward when hovering. Parrot Mambo FPV review: my first FPV quadcopter. Parrot Mambo FPV Battery

Parrot mambo quadcopters move backward when hovering. Parrot Mambo FPV review: my first FPV quadcopter. Parrot Mambo FPV Battery

Greetings, quadcopter lovers. When it comes to mini drones, they usually mean extremely limited functionality, but a very affordable price. Many Chinese manufacturers produce small drones that, by and large, differ little from each other except for the shape of the body. The situation is completely different with the Parrot Mambo fpv copter. Not only children, but also adults will probably want to own such a toy.

Parrot has once again proven that, even if we're talking about about mini drones.

As a rule, nothing extraordinary is expected from miniature quads, hoping only that the device will not break during the first unsuccessful landing or collision with a wall. It is not surprising that such toys quickly become boring, but not Mambo.

The predecessor of the Mambo FPV is the Mambo copter. It was equipped with a rather mediocre 0.3 MP camera, but it came with unique Cannon and Grabber accessories. They are also available for the FPV version, although they are not included in the kit, but can be purchased separately.

The FPV model has only one removable module, and that is the camera. It is noticeably better than its predecessor, and allows you to record and broadcast video in 720p resolution. Also included is a Cockpitglasses 2 VR headset with a compartment for a smartphone.

The new model received a more capacious battery (660 mAh versus 550 mAh), which had a positive effect on the flight range.

Equipment, appearance and design

The minidrone mambo pf727021 model comes with a control panel, and this is another difference from the previous model. In a small neat box you will find:

Copter
660 mAh battery
Flypad control panel
Accessory Cockpitglasses 2
USB charging cable
4 screw guards
Smartphone holder ( maximum size mobile device 160×78x9.8 mm)
Instructions

Thanks to two green diodes located at the front, the minidrone appears alive. Parrot's designers clearly tried to give the aircraft an animated look, and they succeeded. The face of the black and white copter looks fun.

On the back there are contact connectors for connecting a module with a camera or Cannon (toy gun). They look like a Lego brick. The Grabber (holder) is inserted into the groove next to the front propellers and connected with a wire to the contacts. At the back there is a compartment for installing the battery.

The body is made of plastic. The Parrot Minidrone Mambo quadcopter is very light, but bravely survives falls and collisions. It is controlled using the proprietary FreeFlight Mini application, and we will return to this point in the review.

Technical and flight characteristics

Here is a copter designed for indoor flights only. Its low weight and size do not allow it to resist even small gusts of wind.

Basic specifications the following:

Size 18×18 cm (with protection)
Weight 63 grams with battery, but without accessories
Ultrasonic sensor
Pressure meter
Vertical positioning camera (optical sensor)
3-axis accelerometer
3-axis gyroscope
Bluetooth module
Patented Smart Block System

Flight characteristics

Flight range with a smartphone up to 30 meters
Flight range with Parrot Flypad remote control up to 100 meters
Flight time up to 10 minutes without accessories and up to 8 minutes with accessories

Co removed protection and without accessories the quad becomes quite small. It can be placed on the palm of your hand.

Software

The software is updatable. A new version The firmware is installed via a Bluetooth connection using a smartphone and the FreeFlight Mini application. The update procedure is not quick, but it will not cause any difficulties.

Flight controller

All main elements of the copter are replaceable, including the flight controller. An SDK kit for Linux is available on the Parrot website, with which you can make changes to the operation of the drone.

Flight modes

The creators of the model reasonably considered that there was no point in equipping an indoor quad with return-to-home or fly-by-point modes. There is no GPS module in the drone, and this is not a minus, because indoors the GPS signal is weak or completely absent.

The following modes are available:

Auto takeoff and auto landing
Hanging in the air
Take off from the palm of your hand
Flips

Thanks to ultrasonic and optical sensors The quad is capable of maintaining height, and does so quite accurately. These same sensors allow it to take off and land accurately. automatic mode. There are no unexpected or unpleasant collisions with the floor, ceiling or pilots' hands.

There are also new flight modes that were not present in the previous version of Mambo:

Easy – for beginners, with all sensors included
Drift – flights at high angles become available, the vertical camera sensor is disabled
Racing – for the fastest flights, stabilization is almost turned off

Remote Control

Control takes place through the FreeFlight Mini application. It is quite easy to use and has all the functions to get full control over the drone. There is even a menu with detailed settings and with a reset button.

You can control it without a remote control, using only your phone or tablet. The only downside is that control from a smartphone is not very accurate. It will be more difficult for you to accurately fly up to the object and record video. The flight radius in this mode is also disappointing. Still, 30 meters is very little.

The Flypad remote control solves the problem of both control accuracy and range. It provides a signal at a distance of up to 100 meters and allows you to easily fly up to even small objects, capturing them in the lens.

Main characteristics of the device:

Bluetooth control version - Bluetooth V4.0 BLE
Battery 200 mAh
Operating time 6 hours
Charging time 2 hours
Weight 295 g
Range up to 100 meters

The remote control is well made, small in size and looks like a joystick on a game console. It does not have its own display, but a smartphone can be installed on the remote control using an adapter.

The Cockpitglasses 2 VR headset does not differ in any special characteristics. This device entry level with a compartment for a smartphone. Fits devices up to 6 inches diagonal. The distance between the lenses is adjustable. And yet, you can get some pleasure from using it.

Although there is no complete immersion in VR mode, the accessory is suitable for getting acquainted with the technology.

Motors

The aircraft received commutator-type engines. This can hardly be considered a minus, given that we are talking about a quad for enclosed small spaces. It obviously doesn’t need powerful engines, because it won’t fly at high speed or fight the wind.

Transmitter

Using a Bluetooth module to communicate with a copter could be considered a controversial decision, because the Wi-Fi network provides a larger radius. The nuance is that modern homes and offices are located within the coverage areas of numerous Wi-Fi networks. In this case, Bluetooth provides a more stable connection, although at the expense of flight range. If you plan to fly over a distance of more than 30 meters, then you cannot do without a 4-channel Flypad.

Camera and gimbal

The quad has an FPV mode, which is reflected in the model name. The detachable FPV camera attaches to the back of the drone, providing a 120-degree viewing angle. Video shooting and transmission is carried out in HD resolution in 720p format with a frequency of 30 frames per second. The camera does not have its own memory, but you can install a Micro-SD card.

There is no gimbal, but digital stabilization is used. Overall, the video quality leaves a good impression. Yes, this is not a GoPro, but for a toy quad the picture is normal.

Battery and charger

A flight time of up to 10 minutes with external equipment removed can hardly be considered an outstanding result, although it is longer than its predecessor. If you attach protection and/or accessories, the flight is reduced to 8 minutes.

No charger included. 660 mAh battery charges with via USB cable, while there is a microUSB connector on the drone body. Full charging time is 30 minutes.

For the quad, you can purchase a separate docking station that can simultaneously charge 3 batteries.

How to prepare for the flight and first launch

About a month ago French company Parrot presented two new variations of its popular quadcopters Mambo and Bebop 2. The first was the Mambo FPV, a modification of the minidrone with an HD camera and a complete VR headset that allows you to control the device from a first-person view. Next came another announcement - the popular Bebop 2 drone now has a Power version with an improved battery and increased battery life.

Parrot Mambo FPV

The original Parrot Mambo gained popularity as a relatively affordable entertainment minidrone. The manufacturer added a toy gun and a clamp to the kit, but the device’s camera was very weak. Now the priorities have changed: in place of the gun, the Mambo FPV has an HD camera, suitable not only for filming, but also for controlling the device via a VR headset.

The Cockpitglasses 2 helmet itself is already included with the device. You insert your smartphone with a diagonal of 4.5 to 6 inches into it, the screen of which will show you the world through the eyes of your drone. In addition to VR glasses, along with Mambo FPV you will also receive a Flypad joystick, the operating range of which is 100 m; however, control the drone via a smartphone with installed application will only work at a distance of 30 m.

The changes also affected the characteristics of the drone itself: to prevent the heavy camera from negatively affecting flight time, the Mambo FPV battery capacity was increased by 10%. Thus, the stated flight time with the camera on board is 8 minutes, without it – 10.

If the original Mambo with its gun and “grab” was more of a toy for children and adults, then Parrot is positioning the Mambo FPV as a racing drone for beginners. In addition to the included joystick and FPV mode, there are programmed flight modes that gradually teach the novice racer how to control the quadcopter. In Easy Mode, the autopilot controls the drone's movement, preventing unnecessary descent and collision with obstacles. Once you get comfortable with it, you can switch to Drift Mode – it turns off horizontal stabilization. Finally, having understood all the intricacies of controlling the drone, you can switch to Racing Mode - here the control will be entirely in the hands of the user.

Mambo FPV has already fallen into the hands of journalists from the TechRadar website. They were satisfied with the device, praising its ease of use and reliability (the test sample survived more than one accident). This, according to the authors of the site, makes the Mambo FPV an ideal racing drone for beginners and those who are just trying their hand at this field.

Of course, the new product also had its shortcomings. The camera, the main innovation of Mambo FPV, was unable to provide a high-quality image on the smartphone screen. The image sometimes ripples and is interrupted, and is also transmitted with a slight delay, which is why racing with obstacles promises continuous accidents for the drone. The same applies to the quality of the photo - it’s not the best strong point models. Scolded by the author of the review and a short time of work, go away - as soon as you get the taste, it’s already discharged. Due to its low weight, it is difficult for the copter to maintain a stable position in windy conditions, and this discharges it even faster.

However, based on the results of the review, the Parrot Mambo FPV is still recommended for purchase: for its 179 euros (about 12,000 rubles), the buyer will receive a truly high-quality and easy-to-use gadget.

Parrot Bebop 2 Power

The main innovation of Bebop 2 Power, as the name implies, is the increased battery capacity. Bebop 2 could already stay in the air for 25 minutes, which by modern standards is quite a lot for a custom drone, and in Bebop 2 Power the developers were able to increase this figure to 30 minutes. To consolidate their success, the manufacturers added an additional battery to the kit, and marketers now proudly declare that Bebop 2 Power is capable of staying in the air for an entire hour. This, of course, is their little trick, but thanks for the battery.

The rest of the changes are rather cosmetic: for example, in the kit with the drone you will receive not only the drone itself, but also the already mentioned Cockpitglasses 2 VR headset and the Skykontroller 2 joystick, which can control the device at a distance of up to 2 kilometers. In addition, several new modes have been added to the Freeflight Pro application: following an object, orbiting and others. Additionally, the new drone is all black and you won't be able to choose from a black/white or red color combination.

Otherwise, this is the same Bebop 2, which has gained the trust of users. The design of the quadcopter has not changed, nor has its camera. It still produces 14-megapixel photos (and even saves them in RAW) and Full HD video, which is protected from shake by digital three-axis stabilization.

Techradar specialists found virtually no reasons to find fault with the drone during the review. The running time of the new Parrot was praised, as the advertised half hour was confirmed. Among other advantages, high speed was noted: in sports mode, Bebop 2 Power accelerated to 65 kilometers per hour. The drone turned out to be very easy to use: almost immediately out of the box you can turn it on, synchronize it with gadgets and fly. The quality of the pictures was considered satisfactory, but the video was criticized: not only do competitors already have the ability to shoot in 4K, but here part of the Full HD image is also cropped for the sake of a stable picture.

But in general, the drone was recommended for purchase: for its $600 (about 35,000 rubles) it is one of the most optimal options on the market, especially considering its configuration. We hope that both drones will soon arrive in Russia, and we will have the opportunity to test them. We will, of course, report this in our Telegram channel - subscribe so you don’t miss it actual news and reviews.

Parrot Mambo FPV can be flown in complete immersion using its new accessories. Connect the FPV camera to the minidrone using Smart Block technology to record and transmit content in HD. Slip on the Parrot Cockpitglasses 2 for a fully immersive view from your drone guaranteeing you new sensations of speed.

The perfect FPV drone to get started

Become an FPV drone racing pilot thanks to three new flying modes. Start with the Easy mode, which keeps your drone in the air even if you let go of the controls. Then switch to the Drift mode, which turns the horizontal stabilization off and lets you to make tight turns. Finally, give the Racing mode a try to have complete control of the drone without any stabilization assistance. The possibilities are endless!

Fly even farther and longer

It has never been so easy to escape thanks to the Parrot Flypad which lets you fly your Parrot Mambo over a distance of up to 100 m. Fly not only farther, but also longer with the new high-performance Power Battery lasting up to 10 minutes. Don't miss a single race!

Join the Mambo Racing Club!

Is your equipment ready? Have you got your Parrot Cockpitglasses 2 FPV glasses on, Parrot Mambo FPV ready to take off and the Parrot Flypad high-precision controller in your hands? You are now officially part of the #MamboRacingClub! Take on the challenges we suggest, organize races with other pilots and share videos and photos of your flights on social networks: show everyone that you"re the best Parrot Mambo FPV pilot

The perfect FPV drone to get started

Fly even farther and longer

Join the Mambo Racing Club!

Battery
USB cable
gun
Balls for guns
Device for taking things
Documentation
Stickers

Design, construction

It is Parrot that needs to be thanked for popularizing drones. If DJI makes heavy models for professional tasks, then Parrot focuses on this moment for more or less consumer equipment. For example, Mambo is clearly a toy, whether it is played by children or adults. A drone called Parrot Disco FPV is my golden dream, especially interesting to try with a VR helmet. Also a toy, but for older children. It’s gratifying that the company represents such interesting solutions. Honestly, even after the review I don’t want to part with Mambo - I would shoot at the guests, wife or parents, and grab it carefully by the shirt. But let's take things in order.

The drone comes in a small, neat box; you can easily understand the package. IN back The battery is inserted, next to it is a microUSB connector for charging, and on the top there are contacts for attaching accessories.

The set includes two additions, this is the “Grabber”, I’ll call it that, and a weapon, small harmless balls in the set. If you want, you can try charging peas or something like that - I haven't tried it. The drone looks interesting; when you look at it, you just want to say “stylish, fashionable, youthful!” An aggressive muzzle with eyes, flexible screws of different colors, protection can be placed near the screws, and they can be removed.

To attach the “pliers”, you need to insert them into the groove near the front screws, connected to the contacts using flexible wire.

The battery does not fall out when dropped or hit, checked. The drone supports software updates via the FreeFlight Mini app, the process is slow, but worth the time.

Please note that the connection occurs via Bluetooth, that is, the drone is designed for home use; do not plan long-distance flights outdoors.

In addition, the toy weighs little, and a gust of wind can carry it somewhere. Shooting at pets, scaring cats and dogs, mastering piloting in the countryside - this is the destiny of Parrot Mambo. And this is very good!

And it’s a shame that I (we, forty-year-olds) didn’t have such toys in childhood. Some will say that there were aircraft modeling clubs - they still exist! But what if the child didn’t know that he liked various flying wonders? And then you tried it, pressed the take-off button and you feel goosebumps! Very cool!

You need to charge the drone using any microUSB cable, I tried different ones, everything works without problems.

Regarding accessories. To fill the “cartridges”, you need to remove the rubber plug. When you change an accessory, the program menu displays exactly what is installed, a gun or a clamp. To pick up and grab something, you need to try pretty hard - this is where piloting training takes place: bring it to the target, hover, grab it, fly away. It is much easier to fly up to an innocent person from behind and shoot a ball into the head. It doesn't hurt! But it’s very, very fun for everyone around us. Magazine capacity – 6 rounds, rate of fire – 1 shot per 1.5 seconds, 6 mm balls. A bigger store and burst fire would come here! Perhaps this will appear in future drones. Or to be able to load larger caliber paintballs! And so that the magazine holds a hundred rounds! And so that you can fly not only at home, but also on the street! In general, draw a shark’s mouth on a drone and go out with your comrades to fight somewhere in a vacant lot - who will win!

Now it's time for the technical specifications:

Battery capacity – 550 mAh, flight time – 8 minutes with an accessory, 9 minutes without an accessory, charging time – 30 minutes.
Patented system for connecting external accessories.
Weight – 63 grams without accessories and screw protection, dimensions – 18 x 18 cm.
FreeFlight Mini application for iOS/Android, work via Bluetooth, profile 4.0 BLE. Range – 20 meters when connected to a smartphone, 40 meters when using Parrot FlyPad (I’ll tell you about the accessory separately).
The case is made of lightweight materials that can withstand falls from almost any height.
The clamp releases objects in the event of a fall; it is not recommended to grasp fragile objects. Ideally, these are some kind of postcards, flags, etc.
Ability to update software using an application for iOS/Android.

There were no problems with setup, connection, charging and starting. Now let's see how the Mambo performs in flight.

In flight

Here you must always understand that you only have 8 minutes to do some trick or treat - bring a colleague in the office a paper with the inscription YOUR SALARY HAS DOUBLED or chase your wife around the entire apartment and shoot balls at different parts of the body. “Mambo” takes off quickly, the lights on its face are flashing, the blades are making noise, and everything is very serious!

The small drone controls well, and there is a lot to learn during operation; after the eighth or ninth charge you get into fine settings and slightly change different parameters. However, then you reset your settings, because everything is fine by default.

I think a child will be able to master a drone even faster, because children generally have faster reactions, children learn everything faster, and when a drone can not only fly, but also shoot, then everything becomes even more interesting. But the balls roll out all over the apartment and are very difficult to collect.

The drone, by the way, can take photographs, they are saved in the toy’s memory, and then can be transferred to storage on a smartphone. The quality, to be honest, is nothing, but the opportunity itself makes me happy.

conclusions

In general, I didn’t see any pitfalls when using the device, the drone flies, shoots, grabs, is of interest to both children and adults, the application is well made, there is a flight time counter. In retail, Parrot Mambo costs about 10,000 rubles, the price, it seems to me, is quite consistent with the capabilities - it may be possible to find something similar, but what about the reliability of the connection, control, program, updates, work with such unusual accessories?

I can very easily evaluate the product here - even if I, an adult, liked tinkering with Parrot Mambo, what can we say about teenagers? For them, such a drone will be a real gift.

Popular in the category: