Remote control rifles for military?

GNN || October 31, 2005

Skills acquired playing video games put to use with real weapons

Along with dozens of rifles, shotguns and pistols, this year’s Shoot-out gave evaluators a chance to show off the skills they’ve acquired playing video games. Their efforts, however, weren’t aimed at running up an artificial score or triggering a cacophony: the joystick between their fingers was designed for deadly business.

Connected to a remote, sub-.50-caliber-firing weapon via a laptop computer hookup, a lightweight Precision Weapons Platform (PWP) gave evaluators a chance to show how quickly they could zero in on and engage targets. Designed by a team from Utah State University Research Foundation, the compact (24-x-14-inch), lightweight (35 pounds, without weapon or electro-optics) turret system would be equally at home mounted on a Humvee or other vehicle, perched in a stationary position guarding a critical facility, or set up along a suspected travel route for enemy forces.

The PWP incorporates a new type of control system based on precision optical and spacecraft pointing systems. This system gives the operator a range of control options, from basic stabilized control to a target-tracking mode.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Capable of sub-MOA (less than 1-inch spread at 100 yards) accuracy while stationary, the PWP lets a typical operator take seven to 10 carefully placed shots a minute.

Our evaluators saw the system’s promise:

“The automated platform brings video games to life,” one said. “It has many military uses and will save lives.”

“A great perimeter-security defense weapon,” another said, “a force multiplier.”

“The controls still need work — they’re touchy — but the team is doing a great job of development,” a third said.

Ironically, the only negative comment about the system indicated it might be too light.

“The console slid easily across the table when pushed and the weapon jumped and lost the sight picture when fired,” an evaluator noted. He went on to say that he sees promise in the system and would like to see how it does at night and against multiple moving targets.

Remote control rifle video - can be found at bottom of this article.

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