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Parrot Minidrones coming in 2015 (pictures)

The connected-device maker is prepping a fleet of new flying toy robots to pilot with your smartphone or tablet.

Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Joshua Goldman
Five new Minidrones
Five new Minidrones
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Five new Minidrones

The connected-device company Parrot says it sold more than 600,000 of its two Minidrones from last year -- the Rolling Spider and Jumping Sumo -- so it's expanding the line to include five new models, each in two or three designs, so 13 Minidrones in all.

Airborne Night
Airborne Night
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Airborne Night

The Airborne Night quadcopters are basically the same as last year's Rolling Spider. However, instead of that model's attachable set of large, lightweight plastic wheels that let you drive the Spider up walls and across ceilings and offered some propeller protection, you get a protective hull and a pair of LED headlights.

LEDs, baby!
LEDs, baby!
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LEDs, baby!

The Airborne Night will come in three different versions and will sell for $129. UK and Australia prices have not been announced yet, but the US price converts to approximately £80 and AU$170.

Airborne Cargo
Airborne Cargo
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Airborne Cargo

The new Cargo model has a six-stud baseplate on top for use with Lego bricks or figures.

Removable hull for protection
Removable hull for protection
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Removable hull for protection

Create a flying tower of bricks
Create a flying tower of bricks
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Create a flying tower of bricks

The $99 Cargo will come in two versions. UK and Australia prices have not been announced yet, but the US price converts to approximately £65 and AU$130.

Parrot Hydrofoil
Parrot Hydrofoil
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Parrot Hydrofoil

If you'd like to tackle the air and water, the Parrot Hydrofoil combines a quadcopter with an attachable floating base. Attach the copter to a hinged mount on top of the base and spin up its propellers.

Flying across the water
Flying across the water
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Flying across the water

The quadcopter lifts into a vertical position, pushing the Hydrofoil across water at speeds up to 5.4 knots (6mph, 10kph). It will be available in two styles and sell for $179 (about £115 and AU$230).

From copter to boat
From copter to boat
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From copter to boat

Out of the water
Out of the water
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Out of the water

Onto the ground
Onto the ground
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Onto the ground

On the ground, joining Parrot's Jumping Sumo (which was launched alongside the Rolling Spider) are the Jumping Night and Jumping Race.

VGA video at 30fps
VGA video at 30fps
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VGA video at 30fps

A front-mounted camera gives you a view of the action as you roll around and can record clips to 4GB of internal storage.

What gives it its name
What gives it its name
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What gives it its name

The two-wheeled robots feature a retractable leg that can send them into the air up to 2.5 feet (76cm).

Jumping Night
Jumping Night
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Jumping Night

The Jumping Night ($189; £120 and AU$245 converted) is essentially the Jumping Sumo with LED headlights.

Need for speed?
Need for speed?
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Need for speed?

The Jumping Race pairs a set of larger tires and a more powerful motor to push its top speed to 8 mph (13kph); the Night and Sumo tap out at 4 mph (6.5kph).

Jumping Race
Jumping Race
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Jumping Race

The Race will sell for $189, too, and both will come in three versions.

Coming in the fall
Coming in the fall
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Coming in the fall

Parrot hasn't given an exact date, but the Minidrones are expected in stores this fall -- just in time for holiday shopping season, of course.

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