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Bebop's VR gloves are ready to enter the virtual world
How do you breach the divide between reality and the digital world without going full Lawnmower Man? (you never go Full Lawnmower Man). Bebop has been trying for a while, with its smart fabric that can measure pressure and bend to create digital gloves. This year, the outfit is back at CES with an updated version of the glove, and it felt time to give it another try to see what's improved.
Parrot's quirky toy drones are slowly growing up
There was a time when Parrot was the name in consumer drones. That's partly because, way back in 2010 when it launched the AR.Drone, the DJI Phantom was still some years away. Today, the landscape is a little different: DJI now dominates the skies, while its competitors can't seem to catch a break. Except Parrot. The French company remains unfazed by the large industry that has grown around it and continues to do what it's always done: make fun, accessible products.
Parrot's Disco drone takes flight as a fixed-wing ultralight
The latest in Parrot's stable of drones ditches the popular quadcopter format, opting for a fixed-wing design instead. The Disco -- in keeping with Parrot's musical naming theme -- is still in the prototype stage, with pricing and release date still up in the air, but aims to provide an approachable interface for beginners and casual users. Simply give the Disco a little shake to get the motor moving, then throw it into the air, where it will automatically take flight and adopt a circular holding pattern until you're ready to take control.
Parrot's featherweight Bebop drone lands next month for $500
When Parrot told us a few months ago that its Bebop Drone would arrive "later this year," we couldn't have imagined it would be this late in 2014. Regardless, chances are this won't stop UAV aficionados from shelling out cash for Parrort's new super lightweight, VR-friendly drone when it hits shelves next month starting at $500. To give you a refresher, the Bebop features a 14-megapixel, 1080p camera with a fisheye lens capable of capturing a 180-degree view, 8GB of onboard flash storage and a featherweight frame that, according to Parrot, is quite robust and safe. What's more, with the $900 SkyController edition, the Bebop Drone's range can be extended to 2 kilometers and also be paired with virtual reality headsets, such as the Oculus Rift -- which, among other things, lets you control camera angles from afar. Both models will be available at Apple and Best Buy stores in December.
BeBop's smart fabric puts sensors in everything you wear
Wearable sensors don't tend to do much; they're usually limited to health data like EKG readings or your heart rate. If BeBop Sensors has its way, though, they'll be useful for just about anything that comes in contact with your body. Its new smart fabric sensor tracks virtually every aspect of physical presence, including bending, location, movement and pressure. As you might imagine, that opens the door to... well, quite a lot. You could have smart insoles that track both your pace and your running style, or baseball gloves that help perfect your swing; BeBop also sees uses in everything from wearable controllers to smart yoga mats that improve your poses. The company is only providing the basic technology, not finished products, so it'll be a while before you see this smart cloth in something you can buy. Even so, it's clear that there's a lot of potential -- you may always have a way to measure your activities without resorting to wristbands or other conspicuous gear.
We take flight with Parrot's new Oculus-friendly Bebop drone
Parrot still hasn't released that MiniDrone we saw at CES, but its already got something new up it's sleeve: BeBop. Unveiled Monday, the indoor/outdoor quadricopter has a new accessory for extended-range flights, and gives fliers the ability to control its camera using a virtual reality headset. Bebop isn't expected to hit store shelves until later this year, but Parrot let us take one of its few prototypes out last week for a maiden voyage in San Francisco.
Renault's plug-in Kangoo be bop Z.E. features 'printed circuit' motifs, cute as a 390-point breadboard
Push up those glasses and refresh the lead in your mechanical pencils, Renault has a new accessory to transport your nerdrobe to the data center. Meet the Kangoo be bop Z.E. plug-in prototype. While the technology inside (Lithium Ion batteries with a 100-mile range and 30 minute recharge to 80% capacity -- or full charge in 20 minutes using a proposed 400V universal standard plug) is very similar to the vehicles that Renault expects to release on the road in 2011, and its appearance matches that of the Kangoo be bop hitting European roads this spring, it's the design detail that captured our attention. Zoom in on the gallery below and you'll quickly see that the Z.E. prototype (and future concept) is heavily influenced by the look of printed circuit boards, or "printed circuit motifs" as claimed by Renault's press release. Go ahead, firmly embrace your geekiness without guilt. Remember, you're a rock star. P.S. Who knew we'd be rocking the Samsung F480 Tocco so far into the future?[Via Autopia]
