Parrot showcases plane-like Disco Drone with top speed of 50mph

Because of this, Parrot will have boundaries set for it to keep it from flying off and automatically return it to you.

At CES 2016, Parrot unveiled Disco, a new drone prototype that’s actually a full-blown fixed wing plane.

The experience must feel extraordinary, but it’s only possible because of Parrot’s sophisticated, and relatively mindless, drone UI. This will be the first “ready-to-fly” wing-shaped drone, and the first everyone can easily pilot. A new “Autopilot” mode is said to mimic the flight thrills of a seasons pilot. Then at if any point you discover a landmark that you’d like to stare at for a while, a “loiter” mode circles it automatically while you appreciate the view.

Disco is piloted by either a standard RC remote control or the Parrot Skycontroller, which works in tandem with a smartphone or tablet.

It’s propelled by a single rotor at the rear and can reach speeds of 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 miles per hour).

Parrot had a big influence on the rise of quadcopter popularity with its iPhone-controlled AR Drone in 2010, and is now hoping its seemingly user-friendly Disco can bring it similar success.

The drone’s automatic landing feature appears to involve the machine skidding along the ground somewhere close to the controller, though you’ll want the terrain to be soft to minimize the chance of damage. Parrot says the drone will have a 45-minute flight time. The drone can also be broken down for better portability by removing the wings, which Parrot say are completely replaceable.

Right now, the Disco is still a project, so there is no availability beyond “sometime in 2016” and there is no pricing.

The WiFi-enabled Disco has the same nose-mounted 14-megapixel, 1080p fisheye camera as the BeBop 2, including its 3-axis digital stabilization. If you do crash, Disco will most likely be fine, since it’s made nearly entirely out of that expanded polystyrene stuff. Parrot assures everyone that there’s no rocket science involved and, even though it’s far from being just an enthusiast’s drone, everyone will be able to fly it without murdering a wall.