Definitely looks like a probe droid. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular Science
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Facebook’s new 360-degree camera has 17 cameras and outputs up to 30 Gbps of data when recording. Facebook has no plans to sell the camera, but is publishing the designs so others can take bits and pieces of the design to fold into their own 360-degree cameras. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe VR rig’s 17 cameras shoot at a combined 41 megapixels. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceTwo of the 17 cameras face downward, so Facebook’s software can automatically remove the supporting pole from the shot. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceJust one camera captures video of above the camera. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe camera’s design will be released open source this summer, meaning anybody can make it and even sell it. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe central cameras are arranged in a ring, and each have a 77-degree field of view. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceWiring of this prototype is different than the product that Facebook announced today, but each camera will require its own USB cable to receive power and send data. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe cameras are held between two aluminum plates which are available to buy online. Facebook engineers stressed that this project isn’t only open source, but all the parts are widely available. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe hull of the rig has lots of tiny holes drilled through, to provide ventilation to the cameras. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceThe entire build costs are $30,000 in parts. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular ScienceEarlier prototypes of the camera, like the one pictured, only have one camera facing downwards. The model announced today has two. Dave Gershgorn/ Popular Science