'Grenade Cam' Gives 360° View

The British military is developing a small, ball-shaped camera that soldiers can throw like a grenade to get visual information about dangerous surroundings, the BBC reports. The “I-Ball,” which will also be able to be fired from a grenade launcher, transmits a 360-degree image as soon as it’s released, so troops can see around corners without putting themselves in harm’s way.

The concept grew from a 2007 competition of new ideas for military technology. The director of the defense ministry’s technology division said that while the camera was far from finished, it looks to be hugely useful: “The technology behind I-Ball has very significant potential across a range of scenarios, particularly in difficult urban operations,” he said. (More United Kingdom stories.)