Army researchers are targeting ways to make small arms more accurate by removing the shooter from the loop.
The gear they’re working on ranges from platforms that allow a sniper to insert his rifle for better stabilization while shooting from a helicopter, to nearly fully-automated robotic firing systems that can stand alone on the battlefield while the soldier fires via remote control behind cover.
“We’re ... letting the computer do its thing so all the solder has to do is pull the trigger,” said Terence Rice, a project manager engineer at Army Materiel Command’s Research, Development and Engineering Command.
I've never heard of this. But I did use this concept in an article that didn't make the cut in the Mad Scientist contest on future war from last year (and which I posted here):
“Hostiles,” HOOAH stated, prompting Washington to stop and take a knee. “Target set A-D Hostiles in the woods line.” The targets highlighted as target pips were ranked in order they should be destroyed. Washington confirmed the tactical picture and weapon choice, raising his M-18 to his shoulder.
HOOAH had already released the safety and selected 5.56 DBC—dumb but controlled—firing protocol. Washington aimed at priority target A, gave the order, and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened until his MESLAS exo-skeleton arms moved the PPW on target and fired its first unguided round. The next three rounds fired within 2 seconds as the suit moved Washington’s arms to aim at Hostiles B, C, and D.
The mechanism the Army is working on to install a weapon on for this capability is represented by the exo-skeleton suit (MESLAS) with the AI assistant HOOAH which I had as standard equipment for the scout soldier.
