This Drone Company is Using AI to Turn 360 Footage From Historic Sites into 3D Archives

With NAB 2026 now come and gone, we’re left behind trying to pick up the bits and pieces of what the major film and video tech companies have introduced to the world. In many ways, this year was kind of a reset as companies introduced new cameras and gear for live production.

There were, of course, AI-powered features left and right, but not as many as you might think. We do have more news to share, though, that incorporates AI and is actually a pretty interesting use of 360-degree drone footage, 3D archiving, and Gaussian Splatting.

Here’s what you need to know about Antigravity and Insta360’s Project ETERNAL.

Antigravity and Insta360’s Project ETERNAL

Announced by the two companies, which are connected but separate, the drone company Antigravity and the camera and gimbal company Insta360 have teamed up to introduce Project ETERNAL. The mission of this project is to preserve the places that matter by turning 360-degree footage into enduring 3D archives.

This is done, as you can see in the video, by capturing footage of these historic sites from above with drone-powered 360-degree imaging, then turning that footage into immersive 3D archives using Gaussian Splatting.

It’s a pretty innovative process that showcases some intriguing new technology, which is also notably powered by CyArk, Antigravity’s AI drone technology.

How to Participate

What’s also unique about this announcement is that the companies are turning this process not just into a one-off project, but opening it up as a challenge where drones operating across the world can submit their own digital spaces for a chance to win prizes.

To kick things off, you can see an example of how this technology captured and documented the ancient ruins of Pompeii and the beautiful hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy.

If you’re interested in finding out more or turning your own 360-degree footage into a 3D Gaussian Splat for this challenge, you can visit the company's website here.