French wireless products maker Parrot SA (EPA:PARRO) launched its Bebop Drone on Sunday. The device is aimed at smartphone and tablet users that want to get a bird’s-eye view of the world. Parrot’s drones are equipped with a GPS system and high-quality cameras. The company is expected to launch the Bebop Drone in the fourth quarter of this year.
Parrot’s Bebop drone gives a bird-like feeling
These drones can be controlled through Android and iOS-powered smartphones and tablets. What’s more Parrot SA (EPA:PARRO) said that the Bebop will also work with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets. Oculus headset wearers can look around simply by moving their heads as if they were really flying. The Paris-based company didn’t disclose how much the drone would cost upon launch.
Parrot SA (EPA:PARRO) founder and CEO Henri Seydoux said in San Francisco that when using the drone, users feel like a bird, an insect. You can fly through the device, and see everything as if you were a bird. Its high-definition camera provides a 180-degree “fish-eye view” on your smartphone or tablet screen or Oculus headset. Seydoux said target market for the drone will be people who want to take aerial shots for movies made with smartphones and tablets.
Parrot’s drone raises privacy concerns
Parrot SA (EPA:PARRO) said the Bebop drone uses standard WiFi connectors to link to mobile devices. It has a range of 980 feet. The company will separately be selling a Skycontroller accessory dock for smartphones and tablets to increase the flying distances to about 1.2 miles. It will be capable of working indoor and outdoors. The Bebop drone has a homing feature that will help the drone return to where it took off using GPS capabilities.
Parrot SA (EPA:PARRO)’s 2.2 kilogram drones raise some concerns. First, it raises privacy issues and aviation risks. General publish cherish their privacy, and they wouldn’t want a drone to track them. Second, the device doesn’t have a good battery life. According to reports, it can stay in flight for only about 12 minutes.
