Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Laser Gunship Prototype By 2007
Boeing has started flight testing its laser gunship program. Two important milestones were achieved: flight testing for its Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program and "first light" for ATL's high-energy chemical laser in ground tests.
(Advanced Tactical Laser)
The ATL ACTD program is intended to combine the two advanced technologies referred to above. The ATL uses a closed-cycle, chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) with beam control. The ATL will be able to engage tactical targets from a moving platform at ranges of approximately 10 kilometers. It can spot a ten-centimeter-wide beam on a distant target for up to 100 shots. This beam has enough power to slice through metal at a distance of nine miles.
Boeing tested the ATL system for the first time in ground tests on September 21st. This "first light" test will be followed by repeated testing this fall.
The second component of the program is the on-board visible and infrared surveillance and acquisition sensors that provide the weapon operator with images for finding, identifying and engaging targets from a moving platform.
This portion of the laser gunship program was tested using a C-130H from the U.S. Air Force 46th Test Wing. The platform hardware tested includes the beam director and optical control bench, which will direct the laser beam to its target; weapon system consoles, which will display high-resolution imagery and enable the tracking of targets; and sensors.
In 2007, Boeing is on track to install the ATL on the aircraft and fire it in-flight at mission-representative ground targets. The laser will be fired through a rotating turret fifty centimeters in diameter.
When operational, the ATL ACTD will be able to target and disable or destroy targets with little or no collateral damage. It is expected that the device will be usable on the battlefield or in urban operations.
(Laser Gunship from Terminator 2)
The logical endproduct of the ATL ACTD is shown in the picture above, taken from the 1991 film Terminator 2, directed by James Cameron. These laser gunships manuever easily in (blasted) urban terrain.
Read about these other real-life weapon systems:
- Working Automated Sentry Gun
This robotic sentry gun is designed to detect and if necessary fire upon intruders. - Lethal Frisbee UAV Robots
Modular Disc-Wing (Frisbee) Urban Cruise Munitions under development by Triton Systems. - AESA Radars Used As 'Death Ray' Weapons?
The Pentagon is now developing active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars that could be used as weapons.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/22/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Weapon ")
Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock.' - Clifford Simak, 1963.
Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
'The remotely-operated robot tank is an old idea...'
Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
'The autofreighter smashed into the boat...'
Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
'You've got an aggressive machine up in the air now.' - Robert Sheckley, 1953.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Replace The Smartphone With A Connected Edge Node For AI Inference
'Buy a Little Dingbat... electropen, wrist watch, pocketphone, pocket radio, billfold ... all in one.'
Artificial Skin For Robots Is Coming Right Along
'... an elastic, tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'
Robot Guard Dog On Duty
I might also be thinking of K-9 from Doctor Who.
Wearable Artificial Fabric Muscles
'It is remarkable that the long leverages of their machines are in most cases actuated by a sort of sham musculature...'
BrainBridge Concept Transplant Of Human Head Proposed
'Briquet’s head seemed to think that to find and attach a new body to her head was as easy as to fit and sew a new dress.'
Google's Nano Banana Pro Presents Handwritten Math Solutions
'...copy was turned out in a charming and entirely feminine handwriting.'
Edible Meat-Like Fungus Like Barbara Hambly's Slunch?
'It was almost unheard of for slunch to spread that fast...'
Sunday Robotics 'Memo' Bot Has Unique Training Glove
'He then started hand movements of definite pattern...'
Woman Marries Computer, Vonnegut's Dream Comes True
'Men are made of protoplasm... Lasts forever.'
Natural Gait With Prosthetic Connected To Nervous System
'The leg was to function, in a way, as a servo-mechanism operated by Larry’s brain...'
Spidery 'Walk Me' Toyota Autonomous Wheel Chair Like Star Wars
Walk along with the emperor.
Dancing Robots Taught Dance Moves
'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you...'
Proof Of Robothood - Not A Person
'Who are you people? - Show 'em.'
Indonesian Clans Battle
'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'
The 'Last Mile' In China Crowded With Delivery Robots
Yes, it's a delivery robot. On wheels.
Tornyol Microdrone Kills Mosquitoes
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'
