[QUOTE]For years, people have tried to come up with ways to steer bullets, and everyone has consistently said you can’t do it. And you couldn’t—if the bullet was spinning. A spinning bullet is too stable; you can’t apply enough force to turn it off its axis of revolution. The secret sauce is that our bullet doesn’t spin. It’s kind of like a musket ball, which doesn’t rotate, but with technology added to let us control where it goes.
The .50-caliber bullet has an optical sensor in the nose that looks for a laser dot on a target. A battery-powered 8-bit processor uses a simple control algorithm to steer the projectile, adjusting its direction 30 times per second. Motors rotate four tiny fins to change their angles. The bullet is heavy toward the tip, like a dart, so it’s aerodynamically stable and can fly straight.
Our computer models show that the bullet can improve a shooter’s accuracy by 90 percent. Wind and other environmental factors can push a bullet off course by 30 feet. According to our simulations, in the same circumstances our projectile gets within inches, which could require fewer rounds and minimize collateral damage. The bullet could be loaded in a standard cartridge and shot from a regular firearm with a smooth-bore barrel so it doesn’t spin. We’ve fired some representative electronics in a mockup cartridge, and they withstood the launch. The next step is to find funding to build a full prototype.
[img]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/PSC0612_HL_019.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-05/rough-sketch-self-guided-bullet[/url]
This isn't exactly a news article. But it's neat, I guess. The only issue I can see is that a bullet that isn't spinning is more likely to start tumbling, control fins or no.
Since it needs a smooth bore rifl- I mean, firearm, I doubt the sacrifice of effective range will be worth it.
[QUOTE=Ericson666;36239718]Since it needs a smooth bore rifl- I mean, firearm, I doubt the sacrifice of effective range will be worth it.[/QUOTE]
I think right now it's just a proof of concept, though I could see a smooth-bore fired guided round being used in special scenarios.
Sounds expensive.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osgrd1MPb7I[/media]
Close enough.
I am reminded of that fucking awesome gun from fifth element.
the one with the flamethrower/net/insta-freeze/dartlauncher/self guiding bullets etc etc
[QUOTE=mini me;36239801]I am reminded of that fucking awesome gun from fifth element.
the one with the flamethrower/net/insta-freeze/dartlauncher/self guiding bullets etc etc[/QUOTE]
Don't forget that little red button, too
[video=youtube;bKuD_E95FNY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuD_E95FNY[/video]
effective at only short range and is self guided? sounds like the enforcer.
This would be nice.
[QUOTE=Marik Bentusi;36239744]Sounds expensive.[/QUOTE]
I'd imagine you'd only need one per head though.
[QUOTE=codemaster85;36239876]
effective at only short range and is self guided? sounds like the enforcer.[/QUOTE]
Isn't the 50. cal primarily shot by guns that are designed to shoot long range?
[QUOTE=mini me;36239801]I am reminded of that fucking awesome gun from fifth element.
the one with the flamethrower/net/insta-freeze/dartlauncher/self guiding bullets etc etc[/QUOTE]
Zorg ZF-1. Most badass gun in the history of films
[QUOTE=Sethorion;36240247]Isn't the 50. cal primarily shot by guns that are designed to shoot long range?[/QUOTE]
If you're using a 50 cal, then accuracy isn't your main priority.
They've done this with 155 artillery shells iirc, Excalibur or something called that.
[QUOTE=Ericson666;36239718]Since it needs a smooth bore rifl- I mean, firearm, I doubt the sacrifice of effective range will be worth it.[/QUOTE]Rifling actually very slightly reduces projectile velocity, as the energy that'd otherwise go to forward momentum is spent on spinning it. Since it's guided, the decrease in accuracy with smoothbore is moot. (iirc smoothbores can be plenty accurate e.g. smoothbore tank guns, it's all a matter of how well the projectile fits the barrel.
Sounds like that addon for guns in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
[QUOTE=codemaster85;36239876][video=youtube;bKuD_E95FNY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuD_E95FNY[/video]
effective at only short range and is self guided? sounds like the enforcer.[/QUOTE]
Ohhh I wish that game was better.
[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;36240627]Sounds like that addon for guns in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.[/QUOTE]
Or that sniper rifle in bulletstorm.
[QUOTE=soulharvester;36240910]Or that sniper rifle in bulletstorm.[/QUOTE]
And that special weapon in Singularity.
[QUOTE=Sethorion;36240247]Isn't the 50. cal primarily shot by guns that are designed to shoot long range?[/QUOTE]
Beowulf .50 upper receiver.
[QUOTE=Groat;36242476]Pointless and expensive.[/QUOTE]
Not really expensive. Not pointless either, as this could take off in the armed forces.
it wouldn't be only effective at short range. rifling makes the bullet fly straighter, not further. this would make rifling obsolete.
it would also be stupid and useless because it requires a laser guidance system, which is a good way to give off your position.
I could see it working better with gyrojet type ammo than with conventional bullets too.
[QUOTE=Sethorion;36240247]Isn't the 50. cal primarily shot by guns that are designed to shoot long range?[/QUOTE]
No, they're shot by guns that require force and lots of it. 50. caliber firearms usually go up against bigger animals, concrete walls and tons of sandbags as well as the people hiding behind all that. Sometimes the .308 isn't strong enough to penetrate a bear's hide and cause enough tissue damage, so you switch to a 50 instead. Same applies for enemies behind cover.
This is a bit unfair for the person on the receiving end.
Fucking cheaters!
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;36240586]They've done this with 155 artillery shells iirc, Excalibur or something called that.
Rifling actually very slightly reduces projectile velocity, as the energy that'd otherwise go to forward momentum is spent on spinning it. Since it's guided, the decrease in accuracy with smoothbore is moot. (iirc smoothbores can be plenty accurate e.g. smoothbore tank guns, it's all a matter of how well the projectile fits the barrel.[/QUOTE]
Smoothbore tank guns tend to fire fin stabilized projectiles.
