Parrot’s Bebop Drone is Shipping!

In a U.S. launch event on Tuesday, Parrot introduced the Bebop drone, their third-generation quadricopter. The Bebop is equipped with a full HD 14 megapixel camera stabilized on a 3-axis framework. The Bebop combines numerous sensors that give the drone impressive stability and easy-to-use piloting via Wi-Fi with a smartphone or a tablet. An add-on Skycontroller provides a Wi-Fi extender which can be used to provide extended flight range.

The new drone will retail for $499 (and $899 with the Skycontroller) and ships with two batteries. The additional battery is a must given the limited flying time of 11-12 minutes. The price tag coupled with a robust set of capabilities takes this drone out of the toy category and lands it squarely with offerings from DJI and 3D Robotics.

With drones projected to be a hot category this holiday season, the Bebop is likely to be at the top of the sales list given their envious distribution partners. Both Bestbuy and Apple will have the Beebop available in their stores by December 1st and Amazon will follow shortly thereafter. Bestbuy has the Beebop available today online.

” Parrot Bebop Drone is equipped with a 14 megapixels “fisheye-lens” front-facing camera that records video in Full HD (1080p x 1920p). Exclusively developed for the Bebop, it streams live an immersive view of the flight on the screen of the piloting smartphone or tablet. The pilot can control the angle of the camera simply with their thumb, through the piloting app, to transition the angle of the view on an 180° angle. Then, it can film or take pictures vertically.”

The FAA will pleased to learn that Bebop’s software limits the drone to a flying ceiling of 400 feet.

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Parrot Bebop Drone technical data

− CPU Dual core A9

− Linux

− Open source SDK

− Wi-Fi:

. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

. Wi-Fi MIMO 2.4 et 5GHz

. 26dBm

− GNSS: GPS+GLONASS

− Inertial unit: Gyroscope, Accelerometer,

Magnetometer, Altimeter, Ultrasound, Vertical

camera

− Battery: Lithium Polymer 1200mAh

− Flight time per battery: about 11 minutes (2 batteries

included)

− Compatibility: iOS, Android and Windows Phone

smartphones/tablets

− Weight: 390 g without hull – 410 g with hull

− Dimensions: 33x38x3.6 cm with hull

28x32x3, 6cm without hull

– 8 Gb flash memory

Photos:

– 4096 x 3072

– Format jpeg, RAW, DNG

Video:

– 1920 x 1080 (30fps)

– Format H.264 (MPEG 4)

Parrot Skycontroller technical data

− Processor ARM dual-core, 8 Gb memory

− Android 4.2

− Wi-Fi:

. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n up to 36dBm

. Antennas directive range up to 2km (Range in

theory, depending on national regulations)

. Wi-Fi MIMO 2.4 and 5GHz

. Second chipset Wi-Fi to connect to a tablet

− GPS

− USB, HDMI connectors

− Sun-visor and strap included

− Weight: 1550g

− Dimensions: 37 x 23 x 19cm

− Autonomy: about 1h40