Self-Guided Bullet Spots, Steers, and Nails Its Target

[Chulo]

The U.S. military has been after self-guided bullets for years. Now, government researchers have finally made it happen: A bullet that can navigate itself a full mile before successfully nailing its target.
The breakthrough comes courtesy of engineers at Sandia National Laboratory, who’ve successfully tested a prototype of the bullet at distances up to 2,000 meters — more than a mile. The photo above is an actual image taken during one of those tests. A light-emitting diode was attached to the bullet, showing the amazing pathway that the munition made through the night sky.
Each self-guided bullet is around four inches in length. At the tip is an optical sensor, that can detect a laser beam being shone on a far-off target. Actuators inside the bullet get intel from the bullet’s sensor, and then “steer tiny fins that guide the bullet to the target.” The bullet can self-correct its navigational path 30 times a second, all while flying more than twice the speed of sound.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012...Danger+Room%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=KLwVVYV3_K4
I dont really understand the video though

[MeiJoa]

Ok, so its a laser guided fin stabilized bullet. How long until it is fire and forget with thermal imager?

Seriously this would mean the spotter then actually aims with a stabilized laser, the sniper only becomes a trigger puller.

[[RNZE]Sapper]

This is bad ass! Would be awesome for those shots that just have to hit. The biggest question is how much does it cost per round?

[C.Puffs]

[Crichton]

This is really scary or it will drive us to new modern medieval type armors !!

[drake88]

This is inevitable. Perhaps not till the 2020s for a practical system, but it is coming. This is still just a prototype.

So what happens when anyone can, fairly inexpensively, be made an instant sniper?

[EdisonTrent]

This is inevitable. Perhaps not till the 2020s for a practical system, but it is coming. This is still just a prototype.

So what happens when anyone can, fairly inexpensively, be made an instant sniper?

A good shot and a sniper are not the same things. Nothing will change much. Maybe some requirements will be laxed but not by much.

[Dankster]

Pretty amazing tech. But when will it finish testing and be ready for issue? Hopefully this isn't one of those "in 2030" kind of things

[dangerdan87]

I self guide my bullets all the time...and I just saved billions of dollars...and I love savings

[Chulo]

Found more info
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...irearm+Blog%29



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Sandia National Laboratories have invented a small caliber self guided bullet. The bullet contains an optical sensor, CPU, battery and electromagnetic actuated fins. It is able to track laser designated targets out to 2,000 meters.

The CPU tracks laser designed targets using the optical sensor in the nose and can make changes to its flight as often as 30 times per second....Computer simulations indicate that the bullet could theoretically get within 8" of a target at 2,000 meters.

And here is another lab working on a 50 Cal version



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http://defense-update.com/20101231_exacto_31122010.html

Exacto’ for ‘ Extreme Accuracy Tactical Ordnance ‘ is a guided 12.7mm (0.5″) projectile under development by DARPA. The program objective is to demonstrate how rifle accuracy and range can be extended by using guided small caliber projectiles. The program focuses on the .50 caliber round, fired by current ‘anti material’ rifles (like the Barret), equipped with an optical sight and control systems that will more than double the range over current sniper systems, while allowing the sniper to prosecute moving targets even in high wind conditions – a capability unavailable with today’s weapons.The system will be able to guide a maneuverable projectile through its flight, as the shooter continues to track the target, delivering guidance corrections to the projectile. Once such capability is matured, Exacto will not be limited to sniper rifles, but could also be employed with vehicle or ship mounted weapon stations, as well as airborne automatic cannons, including 0.5 machine guns or 20mm cannons, that, for the first time, could yield extremely accurate fire from long distance.
The program recently completed its first phase by achieving a successful proof of concept with a high fidelity hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation. Currently at Phase II, under a $25 million contract, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging will build and test a complete system, including the optical sight, guidance system and guided .50 caliber projectiles, to be tested in actual firing by 2012.

[C.Puffs]

And how much per round?

[flanker7]

And how much per round?

Ah, a key question!

[whollyone]

You're all going the wrong way with this. After a lightly heated debate:

Disposable shot systems. The sniper could sit in quite a nice position whilst the disposable brick; maybe hide it inside a real brick (get that SIS, real rocks hollowed out) has been planted inside the target zone. Bamn! Shot comes from completely the wrong direction. See, see! That shot came from the knoll I tell ya!

[Universals]

And how much per round?

I guess you've got to think about who you shoot with such an expensive bullet.

[MeiJoa]

Not that easy, barrels that can contain pressure to fire a projectile to 2000 meters and it has still enough kinetic energy to kill or destroy equipment are rather expensive. To rounghly aim it you need also Battery, servos, electronic (GPS, Wi-Fi)

Small rockets with ZigBee or Wi-Fi interface in their launcher could work that way. But still a bit expensive for single use and need for advustment on target.