Recent testing at Fort Hood, TX showed state-of-the-art autonomy for critically needed applications for the US Army.
Unmanned operations in snow and rain.
Owners Karl Murphy (L) and Alberto Lacaze (R) in front of an unmanned Stryker vehicle.
Sniper Advance Warning Module (SAW-M)
Sniper Advance Warning Module (SAW-M) is an internal research program that addresses the program of detecting a sniper's location before shots are fired.
Many sniper localization systems rely upon acoustic sensors, which attempt to determine a shooting location after a gunshot is detected. Unfortunately, this approach does nothing to prevent the first weapon discharge, resulting in potentially deadly consequences for U.S. personnel. As such, this “acoustic” approach does not meet all of the current needs of the military’s ground combat forces. Knowing that someone is about to shoot towards you is the ultimate method for significantly reducing sniping casualties and conducting counter-sniper operations. Robotic Research’s Sniper Advance Warning Module (SAW-M) will provide this advanced warning by exploiting distinct properties of the sniper’s rifle. Two SAW-M variants will be created: (1) vehicle mounted on a manned or unmanned platform and (2) a man-portable-operated unit. SAW-M will provide the user with an alert, the direction, and the type of weapon (caliber) when a sniper aims towards the warfighter’s position and prior to shots being fired.
