Parrot reimagines Bebop, Disco drones with thermal camera and 3D mapping options

By Hillary K. Grigonis Published May 8, 2017

Parrot’s popular consumer drones, the Bebop and Disco, are getting a sleek upgrade with features like thermal imaging and 3D cameras. The company announced Monday, April 8, the launch of several new options, upgrading existing consumer drones for commercial use in agriculture, real estate and several other industries.

Industrial drones with cool cameras designed for things like thermal readings and 3D mapping aren’t new, but by modifying their consumer drones, Parrot is launching industrial-grade drones without the industrial-grade price or learning curve. The company is calling the solutions “end-to-end tools” that are reliable and affordable enough for small to midsized businesses.

Recommended Videos

The Bebop, a small but affordable consumer drone, is getting even more flexibility with two new package options. The first is the Bebop Pro Thermal which adds a thermal camera to the Bebop Pro, designed for inspection and construction trades as well as for fire departments. The kit adds a FLIR One Pro camera as well as a thermal app, which gives an aerial heat map view in real time.

The second variation on the Bebop adds the software to enable the drone to create 3D maps from the air. The Parrot Bebop Pro 3D Modeling includes the Bebop 2 drone as well as a one-year license of the Pix4DModel software that allows the drone to create interactive 3D models. The package is being targeted towards real estate professionals, architects, craftsmen and property insurance brokers.

The Parrot Disco Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Disco, Parrot’s glider-style drone, has also been reimagined, but for agriculture. The Parrot Disco Pro AG is designed with sensors and analytic software to map crops, quickly determining data on how well the crops are faring. The package includes the drone along with the Skycontroller 2, Pix4Dcapture app, a one-year license to Airinov First, three batteries and a backpack to put it all in.

The commercial modifications are the result of the company’s shifting focus to commercial drones, a move the company shared earlier this year along with cutting a third of it’s workforce but something that has been in the works since 2012 through a mix of acquisitions and investments, including the Airinov and Pix4D software used in the latest announcements.

Hillary K. Grigonis

Former Contributor

Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…

Topics

Cars

The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Entertainment

Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts

Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.