US Army builds a better night scope

In news from the why-didn't-anyone-think-of-this-before department, the US Army has recently filed a patent for an improved rifle night scope that'll let soldiers keep their heads down while still being able to spot their target. Current night scopes require soldiers to raise their head above the rifle to look through it, and move their head away before shooting to avoid getting slammed by the gun's recoil. This new system simply connects the infrared night scope to a video viewfinder than can be attached to the soldier's helmet, letting them raise the rifle above their head or around a corner without sticking their neck out. No word yet on when the patent will be put into practice -- or if it already has been, for that matter -- but we're guessing that it can't come soon enough for those folks actually doing the sniping.

[Via NewScientist]

[gid @ Oct 9th 2006 3:17PM]

blindshooting is cheating

[Alex @ Oct 9th 2006 3:17PM]

The basic concept has been around since WW1, when periscopes were attached to rifles to help soldiers fighting in trenches. The idea of linking a night-vision sight to an eyepiece has been around since the beginning of the Land Warrior project; I've been seeing working (if not very reliable) demos for years.

[disciple83 @ Oct 9th 2006 3:23PM]

if recoil is a problem for snipers these days, whats to stop that gun from blowing off the area it is sitting on once the sniper pulls the trigger?

[PeteL @ Oct 9th 2006 3:24PM]

This is not new technology. I've seen this in action on Future Weapons on Discovery Channel

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/futureweapons/photo/photo_02.html

Corner Shot 40 (Episode: No Place to Hide)

Combining a swivel barrel with a video sighting array, this aptly named weapons system allows the operator to observe and fire at a target around corners without exposing himself to enemy fire. The barrel can rotate up to 63 degrees to the left or right, and the video/thermal imaging feed can be transmitted to team members.

In the latest version (shown here), the weapon is fitted with a 40mm grenade launcher, but the stock and mount can actually accept a range of small arms types, including 9mm handguns, the M-16 and smoke grenade launchers. Its Israeli designers and other experts see great potential for the weapon in anti-terrorist operations.

[EdZ @ Oct 9th 2006 6:14PM]

Screw the corner shot, this has been around since the first Land Warrior prototypes back in 2000.

[Josh Warner @ Oct 9th 2006 3:30PM]

This is what patents are for. True innovation, something that when you look at you think "Huh. Wow, that just makes sense - why didn't I think of that?" This will save lives, and I hope it's put into field use immediately.

Slightly offtopic:
When is the last time you felt that same way looking at a software patent?

[eban @ Oct 9th 2006 3:32PM]

I think Tom Clancy and Ubisoft allready have a patent through G.R.A.W.

[Timothy @ Oct 9th 2006 3:42PM]

Moving to avoid recoil? Huh? In my time in the Army I never once moved to avoid recoil, that's what the shoulderstock is there for. You never move your eye, you don't want to lose your site picture.

[Josh @ Oct 9th 2006 3:53PM]

Josh Warner - "This will save lives"

Oh, the irony.

[I did just write a much longer comment, but realised one sentence really did suffice.]

[Rob @ Oct 9th 2006 4:42PM]

I think this kind of thing was originally one of the primary components of the OICW system, or something like it. That was like 10 or 15 years ago, I think.

[gee4mac @ Oct 9th 2006 6:25PM]

UNLESS THIS DEVICE HAS LIKE A HEAVY DUTY CORD, HOW ABOUT LOSING THE WIRE AND GOING WIRELESS? SHORT RANGE, MAYBE BLUETOOTH OR WIRELESS USB? HEY, MAYBE EVEN NOKIA COULD GET A BID WITH THEIR NEW WIRELESS STANDARD! I DUNNO, IM THINKING THE CORD WOULD GET IN THE WAY, AND COULD COME OFF OR SHORT VERY EASY IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. JUST MY 2CENTS.

[Joel Rossel @ Oct 9th 2006 6:29PM]

What's with the "patent"? Like this is going to stop the rest of the world's militaries from implimenting the same functionality. Who would want this in the private sector anyway? I hope they weren't planning on making a load of money licencing this...

[csdfsdfsdf @ Oct 9th 2006 6:40PM]

@Josh Warner: "True innovation"? That idea is a total triviality and I wonder how this can even be patented. I don't know about US patent law, but in the EU to be able to patent something it has to be so innovative that even an expert would have had a difficult time coming up with it. This surely is not the case here.

[Oddmanout @ Oct 9th 2006 7:30PM]

Here's a thought, make it monocular. You usually only sight through one eye anyway so you probably won't be losing much depth perception (not to mention the image in the head gear would be 2D anyway). And that way you aren't...uh...defensless to any threat immediately around you. Like when the enemy jams, or even worse compromises, "gee4mac"'s wireless system and either renders themselves invisible to the camera or renders the wearer essentially 'blind'...

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 9th 2006 7:31PM]

Yeah nice little 'UI' issue... bad UI = get your head blown clean off.

[Chris @ Oct 9th 2006 8:33PM]

"@Josh Warner: "True innovation"? That idea is a total triviality and I wonder how this can even be patented. I don't know about US patent law, but in the EU to be able to patent something it has to be so innovative that even an expert would have had a difficult time coming up with it. This surely is not the case here."

Europe is soooooo amazing. It's a wonder people still even live in America. I mean, why would they have left Europe in the first place? Could it be that they were just too pompous for the Americans to handle?


Preposterous.

[mike @ Oct 9th 2006 9:32PM]

omfg hax

[Matt B @ Oct 9th 2006 9:50PM]

Hmm. Muzzle flash + night vision = ouch.

[DaveA @ Oct 10th 2006 12:06AM]

@Chris: could it be that the pompous ones left?

[Jeroen @ Oct 10th 2006 3:34AM]

Sniper rifles are some of the most powerfull guns around.
Apparently you can shoot someone from a distance of more than 1km.
I'd expect the recoil to be ferocious.

As a consequence, if you fire in the position as pictured i'd imagine your gun will be propelled backwards at quite some speed, probably with some of your bodyparts (fingers/hand) stuck in the triggergard and other parts severely mangled/dislocated/torn/... (shoulder).

Appears to be fairly usless
Though it would enable them to life up to their "one man, one shot" motto

Unless he is using his foreheas to control the recoil (which could be the case as seen in the picture)
But this might not be an ideal solution too.

[Jerry @ Oct 10th 2006 5:33AM]

Couple of points.

Simple = better.
On battlefield complex junk breaks and 99% of the time right when u need it or don't have time to deal with it.

All those with "cool" ideas of wireless video links from goggles and the rifle have never had to be in combat. Goood inovations on the battlefield are often much more simple. For example replacing buttons with velcro on ammo pouches allow u to reload quicker and know the ammo pouch is secure.

Not sure what the author means by moving your head to avoid the recoil. The buttstock is pressed firmly against the shoulder and when the weapon is fired the shooters body absorbs the recoil. Durring the shot the shooters eye reamins fixed at the rear sight.

[Joe @ Oct 10th 2006 7:48AM]

This would be awesome for paintball.

[andrew wyatt @ Oct 10th 2006 10:40AM]

"urrent night scopes require soldiers to raise their head above the rifle to look through it, and move their head away before shooting to avoid getting slammed by the gun's recoil."

this is untrue.

current gen scopes have a special technology known as "proper eye relief" that allows the soldier to magically avoid getting scope eye.

[Evan Brom @ Oct 10th 2006 7:09PM]

He's in a trech didnt ww1 end a few years ago?

[Loutre @ Oct 13th 2006 3:27AM]

The French army already finished the field tests for such systems, the deployment is planned for 2007:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lin

[army ranger @ Dec 18th 2007 3:49PM]

Originally the Army rangers existed in the 17th century and were employed as full-time soldiers to signal and warn about any possible raids on the colonies. As it advances the time, it also advances the technology; and all the efforts that become will be for protecting the life of the soldiers.

To read more, visit http://www.usarmyrangers.info/

[ronald @ Nov 14th 2008 4:05AM]

you can use a parascope for this