DARPA's guided sniper bullet changes path mid-flight

[dorminWS]

With an ability to strike from great distances, snipers present a unique threat in the field of battle. This long-range lethality is not without its complications, however, with accuracy often dictated by wind, rain and dust, not to mention targets that are constantly on the move. Over the last few months, DARPA has been conducting live-fire tests of guided .50 caliber bullets and today unveiled footage demonstrating the project's success.

With the aim of improving accuracy and safety for military snipers, DARPA's Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) project is tasked with developing more accurate artillery that will enable greater firing range, minimize the time required to engage with targets and also help to reduce missed shots that can give away a troop's location.

The EXACTO 50-caliber round is claimed to be the first ever guided small-caliber bullet. The maneuverable projectile uses a real-time optical guidance system to change its path mid-flight and hone in on a target, potentially overcoming adverse weather and hostile conditions to improve sniper accuracy.

DARPA isn't giving too much away in terms of technical detail. However, if the illustration above is any indication, the steering mechanism used by DARPA appears different to the method used by a team at the Sandia National Laboratories back in 2012.

In that case, researchers developed a small-caliber guided bullet prototype capable of steering toward a laser-marked target 2 km (1.2 mi) away. This was accomplished by way of an optical sensor on the bullet's nose that gathers flight path information, while onboard electronics controlled tiny fins on its side to direct it toward the target. No such fins can be seen on the EXACTO round.

The DARPA footage, which can be seen below, demonstrates two rounds of live-fire testing. With the rifle intentionally aimed to the right of the marked target, the bullet can be seen veering in trajectory, altering its path to strike accurately over an undisclosed distance. DARPA claims the technology is likely to markedly extend the day and night-time range of current sniper systems.

Following the successful demonstration of the round's guidance systems and sensor, DARPA will now work to refine the technology to improve performance and conduct

Source: DARPA
system-level live fire testing.
http://www.gizmag.com/darpa-sniper-bull ... f-91559677

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... X8Z2MDYX3g

[cwfunrider]

Whoa. That's pretty darn cool.

[Swampman]

and hone in on a target,

PET PEEVE ALERT! That should be "home" in on a target.

[MarcSpaz]

It will hone the target after it homes in on the target. My wit is pretty "sharp".

[Palladin]

The original article is correct in its usage...

[MarcSpaz]

If you look at the history of the expression, until the mid-60's, it was "home in". Poor speaking and the softening of the pronunciation of the M, sounding like an N, has lead to "hone in" becoming accepted colloquialism and entered into the modern dictionary.

So, the proper and original expression is "home in". The accepted slang is "hone in".

[Winever]

That's got to be an expensive round

[Palladin]

If you look at the history of the expression, until the mid-60's, it was "home in". Poor speaking and the softening of the pronunciation of the M, sounding like an N, has lead to "hone in" becoming accepted colloquialism and entered into the modern dictionary.

So, the proper and original expression is "home in". The accepted slang is "hone in".

I'll give you all that- I was just saying the linked article is correct, with 'home' .

dormin's cut and paste must have been lifted before they corrected it.

[MarcSpaz]

Ah... I see what you are saying. Jim must have sent them an email. LOL

[dorminWS]

Actually, I didn't even notice it, and for good reason:

I'd be comfortable arguing that both "home in" and "hone in" were acceptable ways of expressing the same idea using 2 different metaphors. Just because a usage is less common does not make it incorrect. Note the second definition (from m-w.com) of "hone", below; which demonstrates the usage employed (before the "correction") in the article. I would also suspect that "hone" is probably a word used more among rural folks, older people and those in more isolated communities (like me); and more or less "out of fashion" amongst you big city folks.
....................................
2hone verb
honed hon·ing
Definition of HONE
transitive verb

1: to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone
2: to make more acute, intense, or effective : whet <helped her hone her comic timing — Patricia Bosworth>
— hon·er noun

P.S.: Y'all probably wouldn't call it a "whetstone", either.

[Swampman]

I ain't done here yet.

Not to argue with dormin's use, however, the usage "he honed his skills with a bayonet" could also be said, "he sharpened his skills with a bayonet." On the other hand, he did not "hone in his skills with a bayonet."

The word "in" is a preposition that indicates location, inclusion, or position within certain limits, and when combined in a sentence with hone completely changes the way hone should be used. I wouldn't want to argue that to "hone in" indicates location, inclusion or position, with anyone skilled in the etymology of the English language.

I would agree with Marc, that the expression, "to hone in" has become an accepted colloquialism, and would leave it at that. The country folk 'round these here parts often use colloquialisms that some find disturbing. Me? I don't really care, but that one just happens to rub my fur backwards.

Carry on, men!

[dorminWS]

I ain't done here yet.

Not to argue with dormin's use, however, the usage "he honed his skills with a bayonet" could also be said, "he sharpened his skills with a bayonet." On the other hand, he did not "hone in his skills with a bayonet."

The word "in" is a preposition that indicates location, inclusion, or position within certain limits, and when combined in a sentence with hone completely changes the way hone should be used. I wouldn't want to argue that to "hone in" indicates location, inclusion or position, with anyone skilled in the etymology of the English language.

I would agree with Marc, that the expression, "to hone in" has become an accepted colloquialism, and would leave it at that. The country folk 'round these here parts often use colloquialisms that some find disturbing. Me? I don't really care, but that one just happens to rub my fur backwards.

Carry on, men!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not so fast, there, jasper................

When you hone something to fit, match or attain a " position within certain limits", I see nothing amiss with saying it was "honed in" - - - at least no more so than saying it was "homed in". Do not forget here that we are dealing in both cases with metaphor, which is by nature a somewhat imprecise analogy of two things that are only similar in some respect(s). We should beware of superfluous precision here.

[MarcSpaz]

What's a meta for?

[Palladin]

HOMINg pigeons and honeybees don't waste time getting back to where they need to be, much like that speshul bullet.

I'm gonna side with Jim, and continue to hone my pocketknife on a wet whetstone, while I whet my appetite with an ice cold one to wet my thirst. Are you calling him hard headed when you refer to him as jasper?

[Swampman]

Yer killin' me dorm!

[SHMIV]

I love the sudden English lessons that pop up from time to time, around here.

Maybe we should have a weekly debate on origins and meanings of various terms and phrases.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[MarcSpaz]

Only if we can start with the "F" word. LOL

[Swampman]

It's the spontaneity that makes it fun! Scheduling would take all the fun out of it.

[Jamie]

So how does this thing change direction? Little rockets? Fins? UHF rays from Mars?

[Swampman]

This is the best description I can find -

The EXACTO 50-caliber round is claimed to be the first ever guided small-caliber bullet. The maneuverable projectile uses a real-time optical guidance system to change its path mid-flight and home in on a target, potentially overcoming adverse weather and hostile conditions to improve sniper accuracy.

DARPA isn't giving too much away in terms of technical detail. However, if the illustration above is any indication, the steering mechanism used by DARPA appears different to the method used by a team at the Sandia National Laboratories back in 2012.

Doesn't sound like fins are changing trajectory/course. I think they'll guard this one pretty closely.

Oh, and notice they're "homing in" on the target.