Invention Awards: A Video Gun Sight That Keeps Soldiers Out of Danger

Let Sony do it. They could make a system that weighs 2 oz and is the size of your thumb. And gives hi-res images with zoom and night-vision capability.

Buying this kind of tech from a guy in his garage is stupid...

let's hope that it is secure, encrypted, and immune to jamming. Also a little intelligence in the device would be nice too. Intelligence could mean many things such as range, target id, etc.

DemonSuck,

Are you serious?!

You state: Let Sony do it. They could make a system that weighs 2 oz and is the size of your thumb. And gives hi-res images with zoom and night-vision capability.

Buying this kind of tech from a guy in his garage is stupid...

I find it just amazing that you think people working from their garages is stupid and that good tech cannot come from it!? Tell Wozniak, Jobs and Gates that garage tech is not worth the time. Oh, and your concept of getting Sony to 'do it'... With the nation's economic problems, shouldn't you be happy that this kind of work is being done inside our country, creating jobs and such; Instead of giving it to a company headquartered in Tokyo?

Some people never cease to amaze me!

This is the type of American innovation that made this country the great place it is today. I am amazed that there is no delay in a wireless system, that in itself is quite impressive. Bring on the technology to bring our soldiers home safe.

Have watched this sighting system develop over the years, as it has been tested up at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, here at Pickel Meadow. Have talked with those who have been asked to test this system as it was being developed, which included Lawrence Livermore Lab engineers, SWAT team guys, Former SEALS, and an array of other snake eaters. They would shoot all day, and sit around a campfire at night, just talking, as Mr. Hagerty and his tech guys listened and learned. This sighting system is the real deal, and done the right way, the way it's done in no other country. Congratulations Smartsight. Good work Mr. Hagerty.

This is a fascinating story about what can be developed if people are clever and persistent. Can anyone imagine peeking around a corner and expose yourself to look at bad guys when all you have to do is get the muzzle end of your weapon around that corner and take a look? Give every squad one of these!

I believe that there's something already like this but its much smaller and the video stays straight even when a soldier has his gun on its side its pretty cool though

This technology is not in any way near new. I was working with Neil Stevensen of CAST GLANCE 10-15 years ago with the exact same idea, WIRELESS VIDEO SNYPER RIFLE SCOPES. We built several systems with remote, wireless, water proof, transmitters for several branches of the government and foreign governments as well. LOOK IT UP.

@interscope If you patented it, I'm sure this guy wouldn't get the credit for it. If you didn't, sucks for you and Neil Stevensen.

Personally, I think this system is ingenious...however, I think I may have a better solution to the big pack on the bottom of the gun. I think that the scope itself should be replaced with a digital scope. Using the same tech, you could have the small HUD connected to the scope, and have a high-def cam and screen inside the scope. Unfortunately the quality would be greatly reduced due to the size of screen in the scope, but with technology advancing as fast as it is, it could be possible within a year or two. Basically you're attaching a small camcorder to the weapon, and adding a wireless HUD to your sunglasses. Only a concept, but why not?

Another example of where its that single individual making the difference either with a technological or outside the box idea.

talkingdesktop,com

@Interscope, you say LOOK IT UP

Well I looked it up. Seems the Cast Glance is nothing but a rifle training scope that a trainer can connect cables to the scope to allow one to see what the other is doing. No mention of wireless, no mention of waterproof. Nothing even similar to what SmartSight is.

BTW, SNYPER is spelled SNIPER, and your buddy Neil's name is spelled Neal...at least that is what my research showed me.

Great work.

Also useful to look at the Wilcox Ind powered rail so the power for all the devices is centralized and moved to a central or rear location. Muzzle forward weight is tougher to handle.

If you look at why combat shooters miss their targets, it's due to low fidelity training, ranging errors, and target speed-lead errors.

Since 80% or so of dead bad guys in asymmetric war is from small arms, an 'intelligent' sight would be a force multiplier.

Im pretty surprised that this technology even took this long to develop. It still looks like that camera is huge though! You should just make an app attach the iphone! You know it would work!

BAD azz nuff said

The SmartSite will be an asset to our Volunteer Servicemen/women. I want every advantage... training, hardware, and software for those who put themselves in Harms Way. Looks large at this point, but with further development could possibly be very small and light. Made in America, by Americans? Way Cool Mr. Hagerty. We need more patriots like you!

I'm wondering why he didn't put the lens on the end and get the heavier body of the camera further back. Seems like it would be a bit tougher to hold up. Still, it's a good development. The day will eventually come when they can fit that equipment into the gun's sight and have it powered by simple movement. Can't come soon enough.

Anti Americans like you amuse me. What have i done that make me such a criminal? Should I die just because I was born here?

Now we just wait for it to answer... Then again it might just call me a criminal again.

If the camera on this system is that good, maybe combining it with the Israeli "corner shot" would really make a good weapon. if they were combined, not even the hands would be exposed.

This really isn't that impressive of an invention. I was suprised to see someone write a comment that said its inventions like these that make america a great country. Well... Thats definitely not true. The Israeli corner shot has been around for quite some time. Maybe I am wrong, but how do you intend to shoot a gun holding it the way that guy is... It would rip your thumb off if you're not careful. It just seems like this was invented before and some dude tried it again but made it bigger... iPad much?

When the SmartSite is reliably down sized, then you can look forward to the next modification that would have a thermal imaging setting to make it extremely versatile. Not only could you see around the corner, you could also see through the walls for threat ID. Just takes time to get everything to pass the very tough acceptance standards set by the Military.

@Ludra

Well said! Saved me some typing.

@ a_good_american

Wow, thanks so much for supporting our military advancements. We couldn't ask for better test subjects than insurgents standing in front of a cave comparing beard length and funk levels. Its so funny that you choose to call us criminals and say that we kill innocents. Brainwashing some guy into walking into a building to kill innocent female school children because they want to learn is much more honorable. And speaking of learning, you might seek some of that yourself. Its free online most times, remedial ENGLISH is a definite for you if I may give my personal opinion. And don't forget to change the filter on the Dialysis machine okay. Wouldn't do to have your fearless leader kick the can on you would it? And for future reference, public message boards are the worst things to comment on with Anti-American sentiment. There's this thing that's called an IP addy (that's not your favorite goat get your mind outta the gutter) and it tells anyone who knows where to look WHERE YOU ARE. Thus the reason your bad guy buddies send messages via word of mouth. In other words get real, get off the infidel machine, and go get personal with your goat, and quit exercising your free speech you don't have the right. If you don't like it don't come. Thus the reason I stay outta the sandbox.

@joedonaldson83:

exactly my thoughts. :-/

Just to clarify a few points from quotes found in comments above...

“Maybe I am wrong, but how do you intend to shoot a gun holding it the way that guy is... It would rip your thumb off if you're not careful.”

Just before the photo was taken 20 rounds were fired achieving a 3-inch group with a (.308 Win.) rifle, all from the safety of cover. The forward pistol grip absorbs recoil, not the trigger guard.

“The Israeli corner shot has been around for quite some time.”

Corner Shot “clacks” when achieving the corner position and was originally made to support a pistol. SmartSight can be attached to any rifle with a rail system. Also the Corner Shot system has a screen that pops off the side of the weapon system. The SmartSight system enables targeting while maintaining situational awareness, keeping our warfighters safe.

“You should just make an app attach the iphone! You know it would work!”

U.S. DoD specifications for equipment are among the world’s most stringent and include: temperature, vibration, shock, waterproofing, and drop tests, plus resistance to humidity, dust, sand, etc. The iPhone wouldn’t last an hour in the hands of our troops in the harsh environments they are asked to work and fight in. The iPhone cannot handle rough treatment, much less battlefield conditions.

Looks quite useful. A couple questions.

Has testing shown the muzzle blast to foul the camera? Those short barreled .308s have quite a bit of lateral blast. Though I think this can probably be fixed by just having a rag in your pocket to wipe off.

Can the camera be placed on a corner or edge detached from the weapon so I can watch my back if I already have good cover from the primary threat axis?

To jason237m

The muzzle flash issue you speak of is handled with a recessed lens along with a Vortex flash suppressor on the rifle to avoid any debris from getting on the lens and effecting the camera image.

And yes, the camera can be detached and used as a monitoring device if needed. It even has a tripod mount in case it was ever needed.

Jason, please feel free to contact us with further questions - we enjoyed hearing your comment.

A quick note to my friend, "a_good_american:"

Tatăl vostru este un vampir, mama ta este un tigan. Sunteţi un câine bolnav.

What happens if your gun loses to an enemy?
*Now they can stick on the corner and when they see you coming by, BOOM!

I've never been a fan of the "battery" powered soldier. More things to go wrong, more things to have maintence, more things to carry, more things to train on. I wish DOD would stop watching scifi moves then going back to work and spending billions on something they seen on tv because it looked cool.

I'm really surprised it was published...

This is available from 2003!
http://www.gizmag.com/go/2576/
http://www.cornershot.com/
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/small_arms/corner_shot/Corner_Shot.htm

soo its not gonna double as a kill cam cuz then it might be worth it. anyways isnt there one already out for the pistol.

Everyone keeps saying "the cornershot did it first", but both the cornershot and smartsight are just complicated ways of stickin' a mirror around a corner. Sure the idea of wanting to see the bad guy without getting popped isnt entirely original, but its entirely necessary.

I'd love to see this system integrated into a quick detach or flip up camera which could be attached and removed quickly and easily (similar to an aimpoint magnifier that you can flip on and off.)

Keep up the good work man, here's to hoping you get a nice juicy contract.

I'm sorry...but I have to agree with some of the other posters that this is not feature grade material. The technology used is seriously larger then it needs to be for such a simple idea.

The guy is a bit late with his invention and it is also very bulky.

Take a look at this - www.cornershot.com
Its a much more practical corner shot that is already in the market for a few years. with it, the soldier does not even need to expose his arms...

This is on the right track and I definetly agree with making sure there are no wires from the camera to the soldier getting in the way. The few cordes I do see follow the same lines as any commo equipment so it wouldn't be difficult to get used to.
The only issue I can see it that I already have a peq2 and a tac light mounted in about the same area as the camera shown. Adding the Camera and all of the presure switches for our current gear there will not be much room for your hand. Even if it was as small as a mag light it would still hinder the amount of reach you are able to have on the weapon and the weapon will be extreamly muzzle heavy.
Is there any chance that we could use this to replace the main sight? If you could mount it in the current position of the main sight the size would not be as much of an issue. Add a rear veiw finder instead of the usual red dot and you could make it so that you could change reticles and zoom at the touch of a button. If you add a small amount of memory it could also be a convenient camera to help gather intell. I understant that many people won't like replacing the main sight for fear of malfunctions but you can always have a small doctor sight on top in case the tech malfunctions or battery life becomes an issue. I'm sure many of these ideals have been proposed in the past but this is what I would like to see this technology come to.

It would appear that a_good_american is Romanian. Additionally, i did a little checking and it would appear that Department of Homeland security is aware of him.

Thanks for playing a_good_american, gitmo's too good for you.

For all the Corner Shot comments,

If you’re talking about timing of ‘which came first’ then you should realize this idea has been a working concept since WWII (google: Krummlauf)

Remember…CornerShot is just a handgun fitted into a cradle, another accessory for the Glock or other pistols. Check the videos out there; it is a loud clacking piece of equipment that will not allow it to be used for stealth type missions – a must for Special Operation units.

One of the great things about using a gun is that most of the time, you have the control to allow you to change direction of fire at moments notice.

So, you have this contraption known as Corner Shot pointed around a corner, your staring at the screen and then bamm… the bad guy jumps out to your right, or behind you, does the user have time to swivel the device around now, or get it back to a straight configuration? Nope, didn’t think so, your ass just got shot.

This alone makes the assumption the individual using Corner Shot will have to be covered by good guys.

Looks like SmartSight is able to be attached to the rifles that our soldiers are currently using. The pistol is not, and never will be their preferred weapon of choice. It just does not do what the higher caliber rifles can do. Sounds like SmartSight listened to the military community and is on the right track for preparing what today’s military needs. A weapon that allows them to fire accurately from cover without hindering any of the tools or abilities they depend on to stay alive day to day.

Sure it may seem a bit large at this time, but remember back to your first computer. Remember how large and clunky it was, how much room it took up…flash forward to today’s smartphones. They fit in your pocket and have 1000 times the power and capacity of that first computer you had hogging up your desk space. Given time, I could see a SmartSight on every rifle keeping soldiers safer, allowing more to do their duty for their country while bringing them home safe and alive. That ultimately is the goal of American technology like this.

i think the cornershot would be just as good, but still this allows standard issue weapons to still be used in combat instead of buying corner shots for them.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Hagerty, and let me say that the persistence and drive he possesses will assure a QUALITY product that will be extremely useful to our military. He describes himself as a perfectionist, and judging by experience I would say he has lived up to his own description. The man is almost insane about perfecting every little detail about his product, and I would not want anybody else in charge of designing equipment that is used to save lives of our military members. It has been a long journey for you Mr. Hagerty. Congratulations on the progress of your project.

Popsci needs to ask Hagerty how he passed CDR (Critical Design Review), what funding he received, and how he didn't pay contractors and vendors. I can give you details - contact me. How do I know? I am one of the contractors.

Why do you think it takes so long to develop something like this? Hagerty has no intention of actually finishing - he doesn't want his 'milk-money' to run out.

I can give you dates, invoices, schematics, layout files, BOM's, etc. I am sorry to see he has once again pretended to be something he is not.

I'd like to add something else - before I knew Hagerty, I didn't really understand what the following really meant:

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a true coward."

After knowing Hagerty, I can honestly say, 100%, that I now know what that really means.

I can 100% substantiate all that I have posted here.

I know Matt Hagerty very well myself, having been to his place and shooting with him up at Pickel Meadow. You must be the guy he told me about. The disgruntled ex-contractor that's been attempting to commit identity theft and do whatever he can to hinder Matt's progress? The guy that couldn't produce what he was contracted to do while having an amazingly inflated opinion of himself and his capabilities and contributions? Sounds to me like you're sucking on some sour grapes there, pal.