Throwable WiFi Camera

Dotnaught writes "The Eye Ball is a spherical, throwable WiFi camera designed to precede police into areas where there's no direct line of sight. It's manufactured by O.D.F. Optronics, Ltd, an Israeli maker of vision-based systems for the defense, security and consumer electronics markets. Remington Arms Co. has won approval from the Federal Communications Commission to sell the Eye Ball domestically, with law enforcement being likely buyers. The cost is about $4,800 for two EyeBalls (who would want just one?), which apparently also includes video monitoring gear."

Very good idea, but

[AutopsyReport]

It's a very good idea. But what if you toss the camera and it lands upside down? Unfortunately, you can't guarantee a good visual of your target. What would really be incredible would be a full 360 field of view with the same object. This was my first thought.

This is where good journalism comes in -- it actually answers these questions for you. I had to search for the pdf [odfopt.com] which explained this. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned first.

$4800?!?!

[sulli]

For that it had better bring the crooks back wrapped in duct tape. I remember someone made a tiny wireless camera [x10.com] for a heck of a lot less.

Re:more great editing

[Saven Marek]

> I think that's "...precede police into areas..."

Wrong. [reference.com]

Re:more great editing

[kafka47]

> > I think that's "...precede police into areas..."

> Wrong.

Wrong [reference.com].

"...designed to precede police into areas where there's no direct line of sight" - to go in before.

Re:more great editing

[hunterx11]

RTFL [reference.com]. "Proceed" in that sense is intransitive.

Re:not like back in the day

[shotgunefx]

I saw a demonstration today on tv. It rotates horizontally after it rights itself. Though the reporter was only a few feet away from where it landed and mostly saw her legs.

Re:Very good idea, but

[Krach42]

God, it's like the sibling posts didn't even bother RTPDF.

Forget everything you're thinking that it MIGHT do. It has a centrally located motor, which allows for 360 degrees of rotation of the single camera. it doesn't need to counter balance roll to upright, besides, that would be a bad design, suppose the military is throwing it into a rough surface that will not allow it to roll.

better to have the mechanical rotation mechanism that can rotate at 4rpm, and have a software or mechanical rotation mechanism to get the sensor to point "up".

Re:more great editing

[Nqdiddles]

Please read your own link. Just for fun, of course.
It's a totally different meaning to the usage in the summary. It could "proceed with police into an area", or "precede thim into an area". They're not the same.

FCC restricts it to Law Enforcement

[mtgstuber]

Oddly enough I read the FCC filing on this gadget for work earlier this week. It uses the 2.4 Ghz spectrum, but sends an analog signal -- not digital, which is what 2.4 is reserved for. Because it conflicts with the usage plan for 2.4 Ghz the only way the FCC would let them sell it was to specifically restrict it to law enforcement -- not merely government agencies. Personally, I wonder what will happen when these things are obsolete and sold at government surplus auctions, but at least for the next few years the only way you'll get one is if you have a badge.

Among other things, it'll stomp on your 2.4 Ghz WiFi lan. However, because it is designed for use in life and death situations, the FCC figures the police will have cleared the area, and you won't be hanging out surfing Slashdot.