Osiris Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Just saw this, never thought the bullet would get to this point. Did a quick search couldnt see anything sorry if its been posted already: US Government researchers have created self-guided bullets that can find their way to a target up to 2km away. The dart-like bullet was invented by engineers at Sandia National Laboratories in California and features a laser-guided system. Sandia researchers Red Jones and Brian Kast fitted the bullet with a built-in optical sensor that can be guided by shining a laser beam on a target. ?The sensor sends information to guidance and control electronics that use an algorithm to command electromagnetic actuators. These actuators steer tiny fins that guide the bullet to the target,? Sandia National Laboratories website says. Mr Jones said the bullet can self-correct its navigational path 30 times a second, all while flying more than twice the speed of sound. ?The bullet flies straight due to its aerodynamically stable design, which consists of a centre of gravity that sits forward in the projectile and tiny fins that enable it to fly without spin, just as a dart does," Mr Jones said Bullet fitted with an LED in a nighttime test showing the projectile path Video in the source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/sandia-national-laboratories-create-self-guided-bullets/story-fn5fsgyc-1226259214800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I was getting ready to, but no matter. This tech has a ways to go to be a affordable etc. but yes t shows how fast things are moving. Remember the similar heat tracking gun in the Tom Selleck flick Runaway? It also foresaw insect-bots and miniature hovering surveillance drones - both entering the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaze_Zewi Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Did they just take a cruise missile and shrink it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 More like a laser guided glide bomb but no explosive charge - yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 So you could throw off the bullet, with another laser beam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 So you could throw off the bullet, with another laser beam. No. You can randomly encode the beam & bullet with a key so they can't be spoofed fast enough to matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts