Squito, toss this camera for eyes on a dangerous location (via serveball)
Photographers know how difficult it can be to get those perfect shots. More so if there trying to capture images during extreme conditions such as fires, foreign insurgent uprisings or ejecting out of a fighter plane traveling at over 400 knots (ok maybe not so much that last one, but it could happen). Some photographers go to great lengths to capture images that they’ve been known to construct intricate railing systems or housing their expensive gear in protective casings to not only capture those shots but to limit the damage equipment can incur doing so. While some photographers and videographers have used some rather crazy ideas to garner a one of a kind shot, none (or just a few?) has thought to actually throw the camera in the air to grab an image or video clip. That’s just plain insane, well actually that used to be the thought until now as Serveball has developed a camera system that is actually designed to be thrown. Sure it may not be the first (the military has small robotic camera systems that can get in some pretty tight spaces), but it’s loaded with features that would make any camera enthusiast take a second look.
Their camera, known as Squito Throwable 3600 Panoramic Camera, is outfitted with a series (3 total) of miniature cameras encircling the casing allowing it to take panoramic images and video while ‘in flight’. The sphere is also equipped with embedded positioning and orientation sensors (IMUs) along with micro-controller and image processor that allow the camera to take the various images taken from each camera and stich them together forming the panoramic view. The onboard sensors also function to stabilize the images and video while maintaining a positive lock on the subject when the camera is spiraling/spinning through the air. Both the images and video are sent wirelessly to the user’s mobile device or desktop for immediate viewing. The Squito, about the size of a tennis ball, is designed for use in recreational sports, aerial point of view shots and fly-through video applications (unfortunately, it can’t be used as a baseball). The company has another version of the throwable camera, known as the Darkball, for more extreme operations such as SAR, tactical military operations and first responder applications. The camera system for this model also includes near infrared and thermal imaging systems that allow it to be used in total darkness or in a foggy or smoke laden atmosphere such as burning buildings or a bog on a creepy cool autumn evening. The company states that both the Darkball and Squito can survive repeated high-g impacts without affecting, or right out destroying, the camera’s internals. There’s no word yet on when the cameras will be released or how much the cost will be for each, but you can expect them to be available in the near future once their development phase is over.
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