Almost a year ago, the Japanese Ministry of Defense made quite a splash when it revealed a spherical, remote-controlled aircraft that could zip around a room, roll along the ground, and even bounce off obstacles without losing control. But while it was mainly designed for search and rescue operations, many R/C enthusiasts took one look at that hovering orb and said, “I have got to get me one of those.” Luckily, toy company Kyosho must have been listening, since it recently released a similar flying machine of its own for consumers. Kyosho’s “Space Ball” can remain airborne while taking just as much punishment and even emits a fragrance to freshen up a room in the process.

It’s not nearly as state-of-the-art as the version from the JMD, but the Space Ball…can still zip around the room like a sentient dodge ball. The central tail rotor gives it a full 360 degrees of movement, while the 20 cm shock-absorbing frame lets it bounce off furniture and walls without spinning away wildly. Aside from protecting the rotors and electronics, the frame also helps the Space Ball right itself on the ground. Most of the aircraft’s weight is on the bottom, so the whole thing naturally rolls until it rests upright on the flat bottom…

The most surprising feature of the Space Ball, however, is the optional absorbent sheets, which can be soaked in fragrant oils to spread an aroma around the room. Seems like a lot of trouble for an air freshener, but it could be fun to essentially crop dust your house.

Imagine the interesting [demented?] alternatives to air freshener serious geeks might come up with!