tesa Holospot® protects Parrot’s quadricopter against counterfeiting

Parrot’s AR.Drone is a helicopter equipped with four rotors that can be controlled via Wi-Fi using an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Since it was marketed in August 2010, this unusual flying object has been a hot topic. The heart of the AR.Drone consists of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), 3-axes accelerometer, two gyrometers, an ultrasound sensor and two cameras whose images are streamed onto the screen of the pilot iPhone.

The vertical camera, situated underneath the body is linked to an Inertial Measurement Unit which enables the AR.Drone to hover amazingly well. The head-on camera at the front of the quadricopter plays a key role for video game applications as it allows for augmented reality. For example, it will recognize an enemy AR.Drone for combat games between two AR.Drone (as in the game AR.Pursuit).

The device is made from carbon fiber and high-resistance PA66 plastic. Its concentrated technology requires a considerable amount of energy, which is provided by high-power batteries. With ordinary batteries, players could enjoy only a few minutes of flight, while with the former they benefit from twelve or so thrilling minutes.Batteries and accumulators are the preferred targets of forgers. Low-quality batteries are inexpensively produced, and it is almost impossible to distinguish them from the top-of-the-range original. They can present a considerable risk when used. This is why the AR.Drone’s lithium polymer battery is at the center of the concept developed by tesa scribos. The top-of-the-range accumulators of this type used by Parrot are thus equipped with a protection circuit. This is not the case with cheap counterfeits. Special protection systems are required here to prevent the introduction of cheap copies into the manufacturing and delivery processes. Parrot has discovered an effective solution: tesa Holospot®. The security label is integrated into each battery during production. The battery’s casing has a cavity for fitting the Holospot®. Once the label has been applied, it is impossible to remove it.

The version of tesa Holospot® specially designed for Parrot to test for counterfeiting contains several levels of information such as the company’s logo and the serial number of each item, which can be read in part with the naked eye, with a magnifying glass, or in full by a special reading device. In this way, people at every stage of the delivery chain, right through to customs officials, retailers and end customers can verify the authenticity of the merchandise. But the Holospot® system goes even further. For example, Parrot monitors its battery production in Asia busing Holospot®. The first and the last Holospot® in each batch are recorded in a database. This process enables production volumes to be checked and the key data for each battery to be queried, including the production date and batch number. These data also have an additional use: They can be used to check that the number of Holospots® used corresponds to the number of products manufactured.Each component of the AR.Drone is also provided with its own individual number. These serial numbers will be linked with the numbers saved in the Holospot® in the future. It will thus be possible to determine for guarantee purposes whether all the pieces of the quadricopter in question are those originally assembled or not.

The anti-counterfeiting concept from tesa scribos offers Parrot a number of advantages. Firstly, it protects the brand and the company’s reputation and enables it to defend itself against incorrect compensation requests following accidents caused by counterfeits. Secondly, it deters counterfeiters. Finally, it makes retailers and end customers aware of the risks posed by copied products. The tesa Holospot® could even be integrated into customer relationship management measures in future. End customers could then register on a website using the code inscribed on the Holospot® and utilize services reserved for them.