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Parrot unleashes new MiniDrone and Jumping Sumo ‘bot at CES

By Andrew Couts January 6, 2014

Want to own a drone but can’t plunk down the (relatively low) $300 for the super-fun Parrot AR.Drone 2.0? Well, you’re in luck. To kick off CES 2014, Parrot debuted two new ‘bots that promise drone fun without leaving your wallet feeling lighter than air.

Parrot MiniDrone

First up is the MiniDrone, which is, well, a tiny version of the robust AR.Drone 2.0. But don’t let its small size fool you. The MiniDrone packs four high-speed blades that give this puppy some big-time lift, while a slew of sensors (think accelerometer, gyroscope, downward facing camera, and more) keep it stable in the sky – even if you aren’t the most experienced drone pilot – and let it do some “high-precision acrobatics,” according to Parrot.

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Unique to the Parrot MiniDrone is its detachable ultra-light wheels – yes, wheels – that allow it to roll around the floor, wall, or ceiling like some type of house gecko. Another cool feature: Users can detach the wheels mid-flight for less cumbersome flight, which has a maximum altitude of about 160 feet.

The MiniDrone is controlled via mobile app, and attaches to your smartphone or tablet via low-power Bluetooth 4.0.

Parrot Jumping Sumo

Small, burly, and a master of terrain, the Jumping Sumo bot features precision ground control thanks to independently driven wheels that allow it to perform instant turns, zippy 180-degree spins, and a crazy pirouette stunt that just might blow your freakin’ mind.

Of course, true to its name, the Jumping Sumo also features a spring arm that launches it about 3 feet into the air (and can, apparently, pick up small objects). Finally, it packs a QVGA camera for out-of-sight navigation and recording videos of things you probably shouldn’t. (Seriously, don’t be creepy.)

The Jumping Sumo is also controlled using a mobile app, and connects via Wi-Fi 2.4 or 5GHz signals.

We’ll go hands-on with the MiniDrone and Jumping Sumo on the show floor at CES 2014, so check back with Digital Trends for more on these next-gen bots. And watch the video below to get a sense of the high-flying shenanigans these ‘bots are capable of:

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Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…

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Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.

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Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
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