Social networking giant Facebook unveiled a new 360-degree 3D virtual reality camera on Tuesday. What Facebook introduced is just a reference design for a high-end video capturing device which the company plans to release as an open-source project on GitHub.

Facebook's virtual reality camera, at a quick glance, closely resembles a flying saucer. Called the Facebook Surround 360, the video capturing device uses an array composed of 17 cameras. It also has its own web-based software which can be used to capture images and live action footages in 360 degrees. The camera, along with its powerful software, can render these images automatically.

Like Us on Facebook

Facebook said that its new camera system worked on and fixed some technical problems which are common in most 360-degree video capturing devices. Facebook is encouraging both hardware manufacturers and enthusiasts to use the designs in order to build their own cameras.

The Facebook Surround 360 has 14 wide-angle cameras that are bolted into the saucer. It also has a single fish-eye camera installed on top and another two on the bottom. This configuration allows the device to capture its surroundings without showing the pole that is holding the camera, one of the many problems faced by early 360-degree video capturing devices.

The cameras installed on the Facebook Surround 360 use a global shutter instead of a rolling one. This ensures that all captured footage do not display artifacts caused by the closing of individual shutters, according to The Verge.

According to USA Today, the cameras used on Facebook Surround 360 were manufactured by Point Grey, a company that produces high-end cameras for industrial, medical, scientific, security and traffic applications.

Facebook did a demonstration of its new 360-degree 3D video camera and tech experts are at awe with how crisp and seamless the final footages are. A close inspection of the result also reveal no flaws that are visible on the footages.

Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox said during the event, "There's something about how high-quality the experience is that immediately makes you believe in 360 film."

TagsFacebook, Facebook camera, Facebook 3D camera, Facebook 360-degree camera, Facebook Surround 360