This odd-looking ball can automatically take a panoramic image
whenever you throw it up into the air. Seriously, that’s then
entire set of operating instructions for the device. Inside, a
3D printed frame hosts an array of 36 cellphone cameras, each
capable of taking a two megapixel image. Also included is an
accelerometer. When it senses the change in momentum associated
with the apex of its vertical trajectory it snaps an image with
all of the cameras at the same time. The result is a spherical
image with no obstructions-like a tripod or other support
mechanism. The images are automatically stitched together and
displayed on a computer which allows the user to pan and zoom.
The whole story is told in the video after the break. The
example images shown are quite good, although there are a few
artifacts where the segments meet. Most notably, color variances
between the images captured by different CCD modules. We’d image
that this can be fixed automatically in software if a talented
programmer were willing to