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junedragon3
junedragon3
Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 1:27 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 1:27 PM EST
No, I'm not trolling - engineers in New Mexico have created a bullet which can guide itself (making up to 30 course corrections per second) towards a target (designated by a laser) over a mile away (and which comes within at least 8 inches of the laser target at half a mile). The engineers that created it stated the the bullets are not too complicated or too expensive.

They are currently only making .50 caliber self-guided rounds (for military machine guns). However, they stated that future customers could include recreational shooters. Maybe they will produce self-guided bullets in other calibers in the future?

It's kind of pointless at the moment (unless you happen to have a .50 caliber machine gun) but is something to watch for in the future and is pretty cool.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/sandia-labs-engineers-create-guided-bullet-15488960#.Ty69g_K8spY

http://www.sandia.gov/LabNews/111216.html Do you find this valuable?    
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FrankLeeDeRainged
FrankLeeDeRainged
1. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 4:46 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 4:46 PM EST
I'll hold off for Zorg's ZF-1 gun;
"It's light. Handle's adjustable for easy carrying, good for righties and lefties. Breaks down into four parts, undetectable by x-ray, ideal for quick, discreet interventions.
A word on firepower. Titanium recharger, three thousand round clip with bursts of three to three hundred, and with the Replay button - another Zorg invention - it's even easier.
One shot! Replay sends every following shot to the same location".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pxjnl1yuXk
_ 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
theman838
theman838
2. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 4:56 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 4:56 PM EST
1. for military machine guns
NOPE. they are for sniper systems like the the M82 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M82_Barrett_rifle)

2.They work great against stationary targets however a moving target would be a different story.

Here's Why:

50 BMG velocity: 2,895 ft/s-3,044 ft/s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG)

Corrections per second: 30

(2895+3044)/2=2970

2970/30=99

That is one correction every 99 ft. Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
3. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 5:19 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 5:19 PM EST
I don't understand why you wouldn't use missiles at that range. Do you find this valuable?    
BigLoki
BigLoki
4. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 5:55 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 5:55 PM EST
"I don't understand why you wouldn't use missiles at that range."
Because... it's a <bullet>, that works with lazers man!!! Catch up! haha.
 Do you find this valuable?    
chitoryu12
chitoryu12
5. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 5 2012, 9:26 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 5 2012, 9:26 PM EST
These don't seem that useful. Shooting doesn't happen that often at a mile or greater. Do you find this valuable?    
brandon_a_boyer
brandon_a_boyer
6. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 6 2012, 3:31 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 6 2012, 3:31 PM EST
"These don't seem that useful. Shooting doesn't happen that often at a mile or greater. "
I think some of you are missing the point here. This isn't supposed to be something you can use on moving targets or to "Curve" bullets. What it does is it cuts the skill level needed to make long range shots.

Things like elevation, spin-drift, windspeed are all insignificant. All you need to do is laze a target and pull the trigger. Do you find this valuable?    
Oakspar77777
Oakspar77777
7. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 6 2012, 8:08 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 6 2012, 8:08 PM EST
Boyer is entirely correct. This lets anyone who can hold a laser paint straight on target shoot (in a team of two, like sniper's today) at full sniper range with increased reliability.

Not going to see these in civilian hands any time soon, and limited use in anything other that open range sniper situations (more like Afghanistan that most apoc situations). Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
8. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 7 2012, 12:22 AM EST | Post edited: Feb 7 2012, 12:22 AM EST
"Boyer is entirely correct. This lets anyone who can hold a laser paint straight on target shoot (in a team of two, like sniper's today) at full sniper range with increased reliability.

Not going to see these in civilian hands any time soon, and limited use in anything other that open range sniper situations (more like Afghanistan that most apoc situations)."
Again, why not lase a missile in on the target at that point? Do you find this valuable?    
brandon_a_boyer
brandon_a_boyer
9. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Feb 7 2012, 11:22 AM EST | Post edited: Feb 7 2012, 11:22 AM EST
"Again, why not lase a missile in on the target at that point?"
I'd be surprised if they don't eventually use an explosive payload. To answer your question though I would argue that typical explosive delivery systems are very bulky and that certain situations require a little bit more finesse than can be delivered with a javelin missile.

I'd equate this as an upgrade to existing anti-material rifles. Something that can be implemented without much difficulty. Do you find this valuable?    
FrankLeeDeRainged
FrankLeeDeRainged
10. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 8 2012, 6:33 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 8 2012, 6:33 PM EST
And more on the Zorg ZF-1 here;

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/03/less-lethal-combo/

Really! Someone has a bad dream and so some pentagon types rush out and try to build it. For Christ's sakes!
_ Do you find this valuable?    
brandon_a_boyer
brandon_a_boyer
11. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 8 2012, 9:31 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 8 2012, 9:31 PM EST
A bit more info

https://share.sandia.gov/news/resources/news_releases/bullet/ Do you find this valuable?    
OutlawJames
OutlawJames
12. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 8 2012, 11:34 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 8 2012, 11:37 PM EST
I bet for the cost of the bullets and laser designator you could train a sniper that can hit closer than within 8 inches of the mark and not need that other guy with a laser designator.

This is actually not as new as you might think. My dad showed it to me a couple years before he died, he passed away in 2002, so I would say maybe 12 years ago. Do you find this valuable?    
brandon_a_boyer
brandon_a_boyer
13. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 9 2012, 12:56 AM EST | Post edited: Mar 9 2012, 12:56 AM EST
"I bet for the cost of the bullets and laser designator you could train a sniper that can hit closer than within 8 inches of the mark and not need that other guy with a laser designator.

This is actually not as new as you might think. My dad showed it to me a couple years before he died, he passed away in 2002, so I would say maybe 12 years ago."
James how many people can hit an 8 inch target cold bore at 2000 meters? They are planning on getting this down to less than $100 per round. Yes idea has been around for years, but never in this form.

This puts long range capabilities into the hands of anyone with minimal training. And you don't need a second person, just one guy with the weapon and the laser. Do you find this valuable?    
forvalaka
forvalaka
14. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 9 2012, 3:57 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 9 2012, 3:57 PM EST
All new tech starts somewhere. So the guided bullet isn't perfect . It isn't going to get worse, and one day you may be able to load a self guided, image recognition, fire-and-forget, bullet in your railgun action handgun and put down even the newer fast zombies with it. Do you find this valuable?    
Oakspar77777
Oakspar77777
15. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 9 2012, 4:27 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 9 2012, 4:27 PM EST
"I bet for the cost of the bullets and laser designator you could train a sniper that can hit closer than within 8 inches of the mark and not need that other guy with a laser designator."
Almost all military snipers are in two person teams with a sighter and a shooter (both usually highly trained). Any two infantry grunts with this system could do the same job - and that is signifigant savings for the military at even a thousand dollars a round. Do you find this valuable?    
OutlawJames
OutlawJames
16. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 9 2012, 6:37 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 9 2012, 6:53 PM EST
"James how many people can hit an 8 inch target cold bore at 2000 meters? They are planning on getting this down to less than $100 per round. Yes idea has been around for years, bthan that from the boxut never in this form.

This puts long range capabilities into the hands of anyone with minimal training. And you don't need a second person, just one guy with the weapon and the laser."
He said within 8 inches of the target, that would be in any direction so an 8 inch radius is a 16 inch target
and he said at a half mile , So that would be a 16 inch target at 880 yards. ( what is that, 830 meters?)
My Savage 110 did better than that from the box when it was brand new and had not been masaged to .6 MOA
I didnt watch the video so dont know what was claimed there.
Not arguing with you. But the numbers he gave were within 8 inches of point of aim and a distance of 1/2 mile. I can do that without a spotter , cold bore ..and I aint that great a distance shot. Anymore

Dont get me wrong, I am all for it....but they are claiming the same performance I saw 12 years ago...thats 0 improvement in 12 years....... Do you find this valuable?    
Oakspar77777
Oakspar77777
17. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 10 2012, 9:26 AM EST | Post edited: Mar 10 2012, 9:26 AM EST
Why do in two years what the government will pay you to do in 12? Do you find this valuable?    
chitoryu12
chitoryu12
18. RE: Self-Guided Bullets
Mar 12 2012, 3:59 AM EDT | Post edited: Mar 12 2012, 3:59 AM EDT
The idea is that it'll allow for new snipers to be able to get this same hit probability. Never mind that it'll cost far more than just training them to develop this technology and manufacture and ship the ammo to the theater of war. Do you find this valuable?