Eye spy | The Parrot AR.Drone at MSI’s “Smart Home” exhibit

Okay, so it’s not an actual bird perched in the corner of the boy’s bedroom in the Museum of Science and Industry’s ecologically minded, gadget-heavy “Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibit. But the Parrot AR.Drone can fly as well as any winged creature. This nifty futuristic helicopter—technically a “quadricopter” because it has four propellers—is touted as a “flying video game.” With its own WiFi system, it can be controlled by any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch user. “We used to have a different helicopter in the space before that was very expensive. It was cool, but not every kid could have it,” says Steven Beasley, the museum’s director of digital media. The Parrot, on the other hand, “has a camera built in, so when you’re flying it with your iPhone, you’re looking at it from the chopper’s perspective.” In fact, this electronic bird comes equipped with two cameras, can soar 160 feet high and can even “battle” other drones, indoors and out. You can buy your own for a cool $300 a pop at local stores or amazon.com.

“Smart Home,” an ecofriendly high-tech house, is open for tours at MSI through January 8.