Introducing Parrot Bebop 2: The Next Generation of Successful Quadcopter

At the end of 2015, the French company Parrot unveiled its second-generation quadcopter Bebop. Let’s take a look at the differences between the Parrot Bebop 2 and its predecessor and the features and tech you can look forward to. 

Stable flight performance and double the battery life

The Parrot Bebop 2 is considerably more stable that its first-gen predecessor. It can can cope with side winds reaching up to 58.47 km/h, which is an improvement of more than 10 km/h (47.2 km/h). The drone can also handle strong head winds of up to 64.82 km/h (it was 61.30 km/h for the Bebop 1).

The Parrot Bebop 2 is also a few millimetres larger and equipped with two 700mAh batteries. Its battery capacity is therefore double of the original Bebop 1 (1200mAh). The powerful battery gives the new model up to 25 minutes of flight time.

Excellent camera

For capturing video and images, the integrated camera of the Bebop 2 takes a rather novel approach. The first interesting detail is the new clear “fisheye” lens that provides solid image even in poor lighting conditions. Another change was in the camera angle. The Parrot Bebop 2 captures less of the sky and focuses more on the ground. This allows you to capture images and video even at a 90° angle without any perceptible loss of quality.

Like the Parrot Bebop 1, the Bebop 2 also records video in full HD resolution (1080p/30fps) and captures photos in 4K (4096 × 3072 pixels). There is also a 3-axis full-digital image stabilisation system that keeps the images clear and sharp.

Parrot Bebop 2 - safe and easy to operate

The Parrot Bebop 2 is built with safety in mind. In the event of any collision, its flexible propellers stop automatically. And thanks to its Return Home function, the drone can return back to its take-off point if you ever lose sight of it. Do not worry about the landing, either. The quadcopter can land itself just fine.

The Parrot Bebop 2 is controlled via a mobile phone or tablet. Strictly speaking, it is the free app FreeFlight 3 that does the controlling. The app is compatible with the operating system Android, iOS, and Windows.

The app is intuitive and makes controlling the drone easy, even at greater distances. The image from the camera is streamed in real time directly on the screen of your mobile device, so you always know what the drone is currently capturing. Additionally, the Bebop 2 has a number of in-built sensors (gyroscopes, pressure sensors, stabilisers, GPS). This relative independence means that piloting the quadcopter and capturing high-quality images is perfectly doable even for an inexperienced user.

For extra fun there is the special Skycontroller, which extends the range of operation to an impressive 2 km. It is also equipped with a practical holder for a tablet or mobile phone, allowing you to watch the streamed video in greater comfort. The drone is then controlled using a pair of ultra-precise joysticks – considerably more accurate than a touchscreen.

Unconventional Parrot AR.Drone 2.0

If you don’t feel like shelling out over €955 (incl. the Skycontroller), or even more than €550 for the Parrot Bebob 2 quadcopter, do not despair. Our catalogue includes a number of more affordable models of the same brand. The reasonably priced  AR.Drone 2.0 with reinforced carbon fibre tubes could be a good alternative. Its robust, foam-insulated structure protects the internal components and the drone can withstand even harder landings.

It is equipped with a 3-axis stabiliser, which automatically adjusts the position of the drone. There is also an autopilot feature for computer-controlled take-off and landing. The AR.Drone 2 is therefore suitable for beginners and children.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 is equipped with a HD camera capturing images at 1080 x 720p (30 fps for videos). Other advantages of this model include the affordable spare parts and very easy maintenance.