How a $500 Impact-Resistant, Throwable Camera Can Save Lives

By: | December 13th, 2013

This low-cost recon is invaluable when it comes to saving lives. Photo © Bounce Imaging

First responders to tragic and high-risk situations, such as natural disasters, hostage situations, aggressive shooters, or even terrorist acts, tend to always face one important question as they decide to enter the rubble, room, or other hazardous area.

Is it safe to enter and what or who will be waiting on the other side?

After Haiti’s infamous earthquake in 2010, which claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people, a young entrepreneur named Francisco Aguilar decided it was time to invent a product to aid people first on the scene during a crisis. He teamed up with former U.S Army officer, David Young, to develop a throwable “baseball-like” camera called the Bounce Imaging Explorer.

The spherical camera is essentially a small black probe, equipped with an array of sensors and cameras, that when thrown into a high risk or inaccessible area can quickly take panoramic images and relay its findings back to the mobile device of the user.

Amazingly, the Bounce Imaging Explorer’s impact resistant shell also utilizes heat sensors, Geiger counters, vibration antennae and smoke detectors to relay more insightful data along with the pictures it takes.

Look for the Bounce Imaging Explorer to be introduced to the public next year at a cost between $500 and $1000, rather affordable when we are talking about the potential to save lives.

Marshall Smith

Technology, engineering, and design enthusiast.

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