Robo-Gunsight System Makes Sniper's Life Easier 265
An anonymous reader writes "Military and police marksmen could see their rifle sights catch up with the 21st century with a fiber-optic laser-based sensor system that automatically corrects for even tiny barrel disruptions. Factors such as heat generated by previously fired shots, to a simple bump against the ground can affect the trueness a rifle barrel. The new system precisely measures the deflection of the barrel relative to the sight and then electronically makes the necessary corrections. With modern high-caliber rifles boasting ranges of up to two miles, even very small barrel disruptions can cause a shooter to miss by a wide margin."
Re:Why not just deploy a Robot to take the shot? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Laser guidance? (Score:4, Insightful)
That would imply guidance wings, which makes me think of a gyrojet-style weapon. But with enough miniaturization, maybe you could make a bullet that assymetrically shed parts of an outer layer by command from a directional antenna on the barrel or something?
A simpler option would be a bullet with a universal joint in the middle - by deflecting the rear end up-down and left-right enough force would be generated to alter the trajectory. At the speed and roll rate a rifle bullet travels wings would mostly just create drag...
Even so, I don't really see guided bullets become a reality for calibres less than 12.7mm - not only is smaller calibres less lethal on the rages where guided bullets makes sense, but you'll also run into the problem of the cost/benefit ratio.
Something wrong here (Score:3, Insightful)
Am I alone in feeling disturbed at the trend to separate the combatants by ever increasing distances? It is separating the human cause and effect so that the soldiers are increasingly disconnected from their actions. What motivation is there to peacefully settle the argument when you can just continue to blast the opposition? We see the same thing happening with Predator Drones that are controlled by soldiers on the other side of the planet. This can only result more people being needlessly hurt. Everyone, sooner or later, acquires the technology and another round starts.
I suppose that the rot really started when kings stopped leading their troops into battle; they appointed generals to do it; the generals later sat a few miles behind the lines and sent the private soldiers to meet the enemy; now these privates are increasingly separated from their opponents.
How can we ensure that those who have the power to stop wars become motivated to negotiated by personally feeling the consequences of their own intransigence?
Re:Something wrong here (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes this 1 million year long trend is quite disturbing. Except for hand to hand combat let's get a stone so if you get a blow to the head you win. Let's use a big heavy stick so you hit further away then you oponenent so he can't hit you with the rock.
Much of our civilization is from the fact if we break the rules there is retribution that we cannot fight back. Yes it is opression to an extent. But if you thought you had a fair fight more people will be willing to take their chance.
Re:Walk away (Score:4, Insightful)
Being some kind of military person with more experience than the entire user database of dash slot. Learn one lesson..... always walk away from conflict and violence.
If you see muzzle flashes, then the rules of engagement has been broken. Commando's then unleash such fire power we do not care if your wife, children or pet gets hurt as collateral damage.
YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU STARTED THE FIGHT!
Lesson of life!
My god. In my army (Israel) we generally assume that muzzle flashes have kids playing around them, and we don't fire until we have the actual terrorists either on the iron sites or better yet, a sharpshooter with a magnifying optical scope to neutralise him. Those who fire in the name Allah (which happens to be the same God that I pray to) do it to hurry themselves and their family to Heaven. Don't do them any favours by killing their families. That is what they want (quick way to Heaven). Why else do you think they take their kids with them?
What army do you serve in? US? That is disgusting what you tell about disregard for human life.
Tired of the hype.... (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm tired of the hype in the media created by non-shooters. For example, just because a rifle has a "range of two miles" doesn't mean you can hit anything. A friend of mine (now deceased) Skip Talbot who many long distance world records to his name (eg 5 shot group @ 1000 yards = 2.6 inches) found it challenging hitting a 12 foot tall rock that was 5 feet wide at two miles. In fact at two miles, a .50BMG's bullet is dropping at approximately a 45 degree angle. Even Skip's world record shots involved his showing up days before a match and taking notes on what happened to the wind flags (every 50 yards) throughout the day. Even there Skip had a whole mini weather station strapped to his shooting bench. By comparison a very good championship shooter would expect a group of 3-4 feet across. (That is what I was getting and I'd place about 1/3 down at the world championships.)
The point being, the shots that you see in the movies can be made but only by world-record class shooters only under very specialized conditions. (Known distances, known wind conditions, and on a range with which they have lots of experience, etc, etc, etc....) Beyond that is skill and a bunch of luck.