Drone maker Parrot on Tuesday unveiled its latest flying creation: the Bebop 2.
The second-generation Bebop leisure quadcopter is super light at just over a pound, and offers 25 minutes of flying time, a boost over the limited flight time of its predecessor. The Bebop 2 will be available on Dec. 14, just in time for you last minute holiday shoppers, for $549.99.
The Bebop 2 sports an embedded, 14-megapixel fish-eye camera with digital stabilization that takes Full HD videos. It's piloted via an app on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Once connected to your device via Wi-Fi MIMO, the Bebop 2 should have a "perfectly stable connection" up to 984 feet. Just tilt or pivot your phone in the direction you want the drone to go, and it will follow.
Images are streamed live on the screen of your smartphone or tablet, and you can digitally change the angle of the camera with a swipe of your finger. The device can hold 8GB of recorded content, which can easily be transferred over to your phone, tablet, or computer when you're ready.
For propulsion, it has four three-blade propellers powered by four engines, offering "great maneuverability during high-speed flights." As for speed, it can fly up to 37mph horizontally and 13mph vertically. It reaches maximum speed in 14 seconds, brakes in 4.5 seconds and resists head winds up to 39mph, and can fly to 328 feet in less than 20 seconds.
When you're done, press the "landing" button, and the Bebop 2 will automatically land smoothly, regardless of its altitude. Parrot says the Bebop 2 is also easy to maneuver in less-than-ideal conditions, thanks to its autopilot system.
The Bebop 2 sports seven sensors for data collection, including a vertical stabilization camera that takes an image of the ground every 16 milliseconds and compares it to the previous one to determine speed, an ultrasound sensor that analyzes flight altitude up to 16 feet, and a pressure sensor that measures air pressure and analyzes altitude beyond 5 feet. It also has a 3-axis gyroscope for measuring the drone's bank angle; an accelerometer for measuring its positioning on 3 axes and linear speed; and a 3-axis magnetometer, which acts like a compass to help define the drone's position. There's also a GPS, which helps measure speed.
Meanwhile, the Bebop 2 is also compatible with a new Black Edition Parrot Skycontroller, which enables extended Wi-Fi range up to 6,561 feet. The new drone and Skycontroller together will set you back $799.99.