Drone maker Parrot unveils Bebop drone with HD video streaming

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12 (UPI) -- Parrot unveiled its new Bebop drone that supports HD video with image stabilization and provides a 180-degree view along with Oculus Rift compatibility.

The new drone, which is a followup to last year's AR.Drone 2.0, can be controlled using any iOS or Android device. The Bebop has a 14-megapixel fish-eye lens with stability provided by multiple onboard sensors.

The drone promises images that will be clear and crisp even in windy conditions, allowing the user to tilt and pan the camera for a better view of the near environment. Videos will be stored in MP4 format and pictures in JPEG and DNG formats on the drone's 8GB flash memory.

After downloading the app from Apple's App Store or the Google Play store, users can just tap the "take off" button to launch the drone and the use the virtual joysticks on the interface to control the aircraft, much like controlling the AR.Drone. 2.0.

The Bebop drone, which will launch later this year, will also have an accessory controller with four additional antennas that will give users a range of 1.2 miles. Users who have Oculus Rift's augmented reality headset can use it to control the drone as well.