Throwable thermal imaging: World’s 1st 360° ball-like camera for battlefield safety

American tech firm Bounce Imaging has introduced the Pit Viper 360, a revolutionary panoramic tactical camera designed to safeguard soldiers in high-risk environments.

This throwable device will allow military personnel to collect critical intelligence from a safe distance, thereby minimizing their time in a danger zone.

With its compact size, about as large as a grapefruit, the Pit Viper 360 is the world’s first camera to combine six thermal imaging cores with an inertial measurement unit.

Its robust design makes it suitable for various tactical missions, including hostage rescues and armed standoffs.

Thermal imaging for dangerous missions

The Pit Viper 360 is built to withstand strength. It can be hurled across floors, rolled down stairs, or launched out of windows, hence presenting operators with views into dangerous spaces without being directly exposed.

It does a great job with its panoramic views using thermal imaging so that soldiers can see heat signatures from people or objects inside a room.

This means that soldiers or law enforcement stationed safely nearby can assess how many people are inside and monitor their movements. This capability is vital in situations where entering a building or room is too risky.

Chief Technology Officer Sietse Dijkstra explained the camera’s advantage, stating , “Operating directly in the panoramic projection several orders of magnitude more efficiently than traditional methods allows us to generate stabilized thermal panoramic video with low latency and very low [size, weight, and power] requirements.”

Compatibility with robot dogs

At the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) annual conference, Bounce Imaging demonstrated the versatility of the Pit Viper 360 by integrating it with Boston Dynamics’ SPOT robot dog .

The pairing of these technologies enhances operator safety during military or law enforcement missions, particularly in environments that are hard to navigate or too dangerous for humans.

With SPOT’s advanced navigation capabilities, the Pit Viper 360 provides enhanced situational awareness, helping military units better understand their surroundings and make informed decisions.

This synergy between the two technologies showcases the growing trend of unmanned systems working together to increase mission success.

“It is becoming clear that the future of unmanned systems is teaming across platforms to use each technology’s strengths together to achieve a mission. Pairing Bounce cameras with a capable UGV like SPOT is an excellent example of that,” said Bounce Imaging’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Fargason.

Military and civilian availability by 2025

The Pit Viper 360 is expected to be available for both military and civilian customers by 2025. This launch marks a significant leap in tactical technology, offering enhanced safety for those in the line of duty.

The combination of thermal imaging and the ability to collaborate with robotic systems like SPOT provides a clear advantage in life-threatening situations, making it a highly anticipated product in the field of security and defense.