Self-guided bullet hits target a mile away (not just for military)

[Evan]

I think these guys are dreaming if they think they will be able to sell this to "recreational shooters", especially since it uses a laser designator.

Two Sandia National Laboratories engineers - and hunters - have developed a dart-like, self-guided bullet accurate over a distance of a mile.
Red Jones and Brian Kast say their bullet is suitable for small-caliber, smooth-bore firearms, and are looking for a private partner to complete testing of the prototype and launch it commercially.

The design for the four-inch-long bullet includes an optical sensor in the nose to detect a laser beam on a target. The sensor sends information to guidance and control electronics that use an algorithm in an eight-bit central processing unit to command electromagnetic actuators. These actuators steer tiny fins that guide the bullet to the target.
. . .
The researchers hope to market the bullet to the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters.

They stuck an LED in it to act like a tracer.

http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-feat...et-a-mile-away

[radkins]

I think maybe they are not dreaming at all, hallucinating maybe? What next a tiny cruise missile for prairie dogs?


I can see this being really useful for the military and in the not too distant future may be the ultimate tool for war time snipers but even if the cost could be reduced to an acceptable level I see no reasonable civilian use for it, it would most likely become heavily restricted anyway.

[jason.weir]

one step closer to frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their frickin' heads

-J

[Boucher]

Just scale up the Gyro-Jet

[loose nut]

For recreational shooters.

Giving the ability for anyone with a grudge against someone, bosses and rich people come to mind, to be able to shoot them from a mile away. Thats going to happen, not.

[Evan]

The gyrojet is a rocket. This new item will probably fit in a 12 gauge just fine. It's fired, like a slug and is guided as it flies to the target. As long as the target has the laser shining on it you could probably fire it straight up and it would hit it on the way down.


BTW, the gyro jet was banned at first because the firearms act of 1968 prohibits anything rocket powered over 12mm. The original gyrojet was 13mm so they made it 12mm. They were developed just down the road from where I grew up. They sold them in the local hardware store in Danville for a while.

[Frank46]

And when you see them for sale it blows your mind $$$. Frank

[1smalljohnson]

Course correction in small caliber ammunition = foolish and expensive

Marksmanship training in small caliber = smart and economical

Senior Leadership thinking they can employ conscript-level soldiers to do an experienced marksman's job = Priceless.

This thing doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell. 20mm and larger? Now we're talking a different game...

[JCHannum]

While it is interesting, it is of questionable value. Consider the fact that snipers are making kills at more than a mile with some regularity with current weaponry, there is little advantage.

Downside of the guided projectile is that, in addition to the expense of the projectile itself, the supporting equipment, very likely is also pricey. Consider what the equipment required to hold a focused laser dot on a target a mile away, optics and all, will add to the cost of the system. Can all that be confused by a couple of guys with laser pointers down range?

The literature says it fires the projectile as 2400 fps, but I don't see anything about the projectile weight. It would probably require a pretty stout platform to handle that. There is a video out that shows firing in slow motion, it is a sabot, so it is a rather large projectile and I would guess, quite heavy compared to current sniper ammunition.

OK, here's more, it is intended for the 50 cal BMG cartridge. Look at the cutaway and see how much the bullet reduces the powder capacity of the case. It will take some pretty fancy powders for that to come anywhere 50 BMG velocities.

http://www.defensereview.com/sandia-...-the-possible/

[Evan]

I agree on aiming the designator. That will be even more difficult than aiming a rifle in the first place since it must be held on the point of aim while the projectile is in flight. Perhaps they can develop a system using inertial and similar guidance in the designator to hold the point of aim from the moment the trigger is pulled but that will add considerably to expense. Even if it is allowed for recreational shooters (sure ) the ownership will be tightly restricted by the expense of the system.

Another issue is that the designator will not be a 5 milliwatt laser. To illuminate something at a mile with a bright enough spot to be clearly identified by the optics in full sunlight will require a system that is definitely not eye safe.

However, I will bet that the two guys developing this will make some good money. The military will want at least a few hundred to play with. It has a very high cool factor.