Despite its odd appearance, the Gimball is the first collision-tolerant drone that could prove itself useful in a variety of applications, from everyday tasks to hazardous situations. Designed by Flyability, the Gimball recently won a $1 million prize in the UAE's Drones for Good international competition, which aims to transform emerging drone technologies into practical solutions to improve everyday living.

The Gimball's most outlandish feature is its strength. The drone's spherical lightweight cage enables it to bounce off obstacles and roll on any surface to keep itself stable in complex environments or indoor settings. It can also safely fly in close contact around humans while operating, thus making it possibly useful for tasks like delivering goods or becoming a potential aid for first-responders in emergency conditions like post-disaster search and rescue.

Equipped with an HD camera, the Gimball can be used as a safer alternative in conducting inspections in industrial facilities, and it requires almost no prior training or experience in piloting, according to Flyability in a press statement.

Now with some extra cash in addition to a recently completed round of financing, Flyability will add further developments to their current Gimball prototype, like thermal imaging and better indoor localization, in hopes to launch the product commercially in the near future.

See it in action in the video below.