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If the name Parrot rings a bell to you, it means you paid attention to the avalanche of news related to drones from the past months.
Parrot is a drone – manufacturer behemoth based in Paris. Almost a month ago we presented you with the company’s latest innovation in drone technology, the Bebop flying drone.
We are here today to tell you that Parrot announced that two new minidrones, this time for entertainment purposes only, would be available starting this august.
The critters are marketed as toy drones for the children 14 and up. According to some specialists close to the company, the new minidrones, named the Jumping Sumo and the Rolling Spider, respectively, could be safely used also by children 8+.
According to the media, Parrot showcased the minidrones last year, but it only recently revealed the prices, the availability and the stores selling the drones:
The Jumping Sumo, which is essentially a hopping, spinning remote-control car that you manipulate over WiFi with a Google or Apple connected device, will retail for $159. The Rolling Spider, a Bluetooth-connected flier about the size of a baseball card, will cost $99. Both will arrive in early August and will be available online or at Apple stores, Best Buy, Verizon, and Sprint. Both are operated through Parrot’s free app, available on Android and iOS devices.
The minidrones look indeed spectacular and sport a series of features that are compelling to both children and adults. The Jumping Sumo is able to perform Olympics – style jumps, reaching a height of 2.5 feet in the air from a single propulsive launch, but it can also do a lot of spins and sharp turns. While it works more like a remote – controlled car toy, the Jumping Sumo does a lot more than a car: it can kick the object behind it with impressive force and it can stream live videos to your smart device via an incorporated camera.
The Rolling Spider is even more impressive: it flies up to 50 feet in the sky until it loses its Bluetooth connection and comes together with a pair of extra wheels so you can control it on the floor, the walls and the ceiling. The Rolling Spider trumps any remote – controlled car in this respect. Its battery lasts only a few minutes (eight minutes of flight per full charge according to Parrot representatives) but those minutes make one of the best shows in toyland.
All in all, the new minidrones signed by Parrot may have a booming success among tech aficionados. Stay tuned to the news, as we are keeping our eyes peeled for future reviews on these toys.
