i found the boomerang II counter sniper system details posted on wikileaks

[maw]

The BOOMERANG II SYSTEM is an integrated hardware and software system to detect incoming small-arms fire and to indicate the shooter’s position by showing the azimuth angle of the shooter relative to the forward direction of the vehicle. System is installed in a HMMWV and operates both when the vehicle is stationary and moving. The system detects the sound of incoming rounds, performs acoustical analysis, and indicates the direction to the shooter both visually and aurally.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/3613/boomeranghe0.jpg
i particularly like this:
The system announces shot detection and shooter relative position by voice from a speaker, in the manner “Shot 3 O’clock”, or in the case of two possible positions, “Shot 3 o’clock or 6 o’clock”.

http://88.80.13.160/wiki/US_Boomerang_weapon_system_users_manual

[playtym]

When are they bringing out the one that will counter guys who just shoot pretty good?

[khukuri]

I wonder how that speaker will sound when bullets coming from 6 different directions

[Bulletproof]

I saw it on Future Weapon, an interesting gadget I must say. In the show, the guy had to ambush a HMMWV using the cover of the wood. As soon as he opened fire, the system pinpointed his location.

[ZoneOne]

I wonder how that speaker will sound when bullets coming from 6 different directions

It will probably sound like an Automated Mess of words. This isn't a system that is designed to handle multiple different firing positions.

[Britboy]

It will probably sound like an Automated Mess of words. This isn't a system that is designed to handle multiple different firing positions.

Mmm, surely this is applicable to shootings in current COIN in Iraq for example, and less for conventional operations/General War with bangs going off all around.

Impressive technology though, knew they could locate arty by sound but this must be so much harder to make work.

[rattenkrieger]

There are some systems, which are used on the firing range, which use the same method to locate where you hit the target... so you can zero your weapon.
The system isn't that new anymore (don't know the exact year when it was introduced.)

Also there were a lot of mistakes cause the noice of the shot can be reflected in the terrain.
So I don't know if this feature is really something new, nevertheless it's worth trying it, but I doubt it is going to be effective...

[JC0352]

I wonder how that speaker will sound when bullets coming from 6 different directions
What would be great was if it just gave an audible tone instead of a voice and indicate the multiple shot directions and ranges on a visible display. Of course too much information could slow troops down... We've managed to get the job done for over 200 years and I'm a bit wary of depending on too many gadgets.

[big_les]

Am I missing something, or is this being on wikileaks a *bad* thing? And by bad thing, I mean "gift to the enemy".

Wikileaks does some good stuff, but couldn't this endanger lives?

[JC0352]

Am I missing something, or is this being on wikileaks a *bad* thing? And by bad thing, I mean "gift to the enemy".

Wikileaks does some good stuff, but couldn't this endanger lives?

it was already shown on a tv show, so i doubt it.

[packetloss]

What would be great was if it just gave an audible tone instead of a voice and indicate the multiple shot directions and ranges on a visible display. Of course too much information could slow troops down... We've managed to get the job done for over 200 years and I'm a bit wary of depending on too many gadgets.

There is a visual display - Its an LED rosette with LCD Display, the audible cuing is to keep your eyes out. There is ethernet and gps recepticals for trig use. AND a mute button!

[Waterman]

IIRC there was a static version of this system that was used in some of LA's less nice areas. There were microphones placed in various locations, all connected to a computer system. By computer analysis of the strength of the sound pick up at various locations the location of the shooter could be determined.

The goal if my memory serves was to track down "happy fire" shooters on New Years, since they were usually at a static locations (i.e. parties). Officers would be dispatched to the location of the shot to track down the perps. I don't remember how effective it was, or if it is still in use.

My guess would be that this mobile unit uses a similar type of system, just modified for a mobile and single point unit.

[JC0352]

There is a visual display - Its an LED rosette with LCD Display, the audible cuing is to keep your eyes out. There is ethernet and gps recepticals for trig use. AND a mute button!
I only say that because the audible cueing cannot point out multiple directions and ranges at once. Plus, most would probably turn the stupid voice off like everyone does with their GPS in civilian cars. There's alot of communication once rounds are impacting, and it would be hard to imagine trying to listen to some voice from a computer with all that going on.

[delio]

Just DARPA doing its thing, ..

Boomerang (http://www.bbn.com/products_and_services/boomerang/), uses a bundle of seven microphones, each facing a different direction, mounted on top of an 18-inch pole. (Imagine a giant bouquet, with all the flower petals gone.) When a bullet flies by, creating a shock wave, each microphone picks up the sound at a slightly different time. Those tiny differences allow the system to calculate where the shooter is. (Boomerang also listens for the blast from the gun's muzzle, which reaches the system just after the bullet's faster-than-sound flight.) Inside the Humvee, a recorded voice buzzes through a dashboard speaker, announcing the shooter's position - "Shot 10 o'clock! Shot 10 o'clock!" - and an analog clocklike display indicates the direction. Other information, like the shooter's G.P.S. coordinates, range and elevation, are also provided. "We're now accurate way beyond 500 meters," says Dave Schmitt, Boomerang's program manager at BBN Technologies in Cambridge, Mass.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dYgsGoAlb1s

[big_les]

it was already shown on a tv show, so i doubt it.

O rly? Wow, I never thought I'd say it, but I need to watch more TV. 8|

[JC0352]

O rly? Wow, I never thought I'd say it, but I need to watch more TV. 8|
Nahh, TV is overrated. The system was featured on an episode of FutureWeapons, which I don't watch anymore.