Self-Guided Bullet Can Hit Targets a Mile Away 421
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by
Soulskill
from the just-in-case-you're-too-lazy-to-walk-over-there dept.
from the just-in-case-you're-too-lazy-to-walk-over-there dept.
New submitter jpwilliams writes "Gizmag reports that researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have tested a 10-centimeter bullet that can be fired from a smooth-bore rifle to hit a laser-marked target one mile away. The 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.' Interestingly, accuracy improves with targets that are further away, because 'the bullet's motions settle the longer it is in flight.'"
Hmmmmm (Score:2, Funny)
Interesting. If you were looking for gun.nut and came to slashdot by mistake.
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds more like a dart than a bullet.
The real trick is training the sharks to fire the rifles.
Really? (Score:5, Funny)
High Tech (Score:5, Funny)
Re:10 CENTIMETERS NOT INCHES!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
That's what she said..
Re:10 CENTIMETERS NOT INCHES!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
If everything went metric we wouldn't have these problems.
The bullet is 10cm not 10in.
Maybe a NASA engineer submitted the fine article?
Re:Congratulations (Score:4, Funny)
I just saw that episode (Score:4, Funny)
I've been watching season 4 of Chuck and just saw this episode. We have nothing to worry about, the CIA will have no problem recovering the bullets. Also the female CIA agent will develop a severe clothing allergy half-way through.
Re:Lasers? Fired from a shark? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:5, Funny)
In the gaming universe this is known as an "aim bot", and is routinely derided as a hack for no-skill n00bs.
It should be popular.
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:3, Funny)
Navy snipers can exceed 5 mile killing shots easily. You're doing it all wrong. We kick ass, and don't bother taking names.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SusumfLtYZM [youtube.com]
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:4, Funny)
That's a 5" Mk.45 gun, not a rifle, and it's not a sniper, it's an artillery shot. ;) That thing has a range well over 5 miles... more like 13nm according to wiki. :) The navy has guns with an operational range >20mi if you're willing to allow a bigger gun like a 12" or a 16"...
Of course, if you're going to allow the Navy to use big guns as "sniper" weapons, I'm going to allow the Army to use an excalibur round... 200+ mile range on that particular type of artillery. :P
Re:Dart Maybe? (Score:4, Funny)
Air Force has got you both beat. Nuke it from orbit.
Re:Farther (Score:4, Funny)
Re:misnomer... (Score:5, Funny)
Of course the laser spot isn't the target for the bullet, who's trying to destroy a laser dot?!
Probably a cat.