The gadget would record details of every shot fired to track both weapon and user performance

Black Box Gun Tracking gun and user performance since 2009 FN Herstal

Military and police higher-ups can now see just how many shots a particular weapon fired during the course of a battle or incident. The Register reports that a new black box device designed for rifles and submachine guns could report on ammo usage and weapon jamming, as well as who shot whom at what time.

The new gadget could possibly record details such as where shots were fired and the intended target, and even indirectly finger the identity of the weapon user by using GPS and the weapon's identification number. That would allow individual soldiers to know how many shots they had fired without checking their magazines or ammo if hooked up to a Land Warrior system, and commanders could see if their troops are in danger of running low on ammo. Manufacturers could also know when a weapon might require maintenance, or if a particular gun had troubles such as jamming.

A black box device might also tip off higher-ups regarding the details of when and where weapons were fired, which could prove useful in follow-up investigations involving accidents or possible misbehavior. It could also inform after-action reports to help determine how to better improve soldier performance.

Belgian company FN Herstal plans to show off its black box at the MILIPOL security expo in Paris tomorrow. The device supposedly fits into the empty space the size of a pistol grip, and its battery can last either ten years or 100,000 shots.

This sounds like a worthy gun upgrade, in a different sense from the ability to shoot precision explosive bullets. The added accountability that such a device adds to the military and police also does not hurt, and even private gun owners may like the idea of better knowing their weapon -- without the outside monitoring, of course.

[via The Register]

17 Comments

Better way to keep track of bad cops.

Better way to keep track of bad people. I wouldn't mind subsidizing all guns to put something like this in them. I support the right to have a gun but I don't have a problem with having a record of when, where, and why it is used, these things are deadly weapons.

This is promising. If they can figure out who is holding the gun at the moment, they can lock the safety in place if it is a person that shouldn't be holding a weapon.

The safest and most reliable way for tech like this to be used effectively is to create biometrics security like that found in the flick District 9.

If you can encode security in a device like this so only one user would be able to effectively handle that weapon, or authorize another user of the weapon in a non-stressful environment (gun range, hunting, etc.); then effective, yet not stifling or unconstitutional gun control would actually arrive.

I grew up with weapons. I own firearms, shoot firearms, and I am all for the control of illegal weapons. It is the bad apples that ruin the freedoms of law abiding, good citizens of this country. This would completely eliminate straw purchases as weapons would be "assigned" to a certain biological lifeform.

Good idea. Just get it through million round tests and we are good to go.

--GTO--

also a good way to view how much ammo you have left.

I beg to differ. Maybe just maybe, you could implement this type of system with controlled groups -- police, military, etc.

Don't know how much good it would do.

Police are already the world's most observed group. They have internal video surveillance, internal and external oversight committees, it goes on. Keep it up -- noboody will take the thankless job any more. I don't think that cops are the problem -- bad guys are the problem.

BTW, the GPS would probably be utter crap. Doesn't work well in large cities, and the accuracy is generally in meters -- not too precise.

The military app also looks a little shaky. How reliable is it -- far from a sophisticated infrastructure. How is it in sand, water, ice? Does it really benefit anybody? Does it emit an electronic signal to help the enemy find you?

As for the general publlic -- well good luck with that. How do you get EVERY firearms manufacturer to use this system? Plus, how do you retrofit the bezillion firearms currently in use? Maybe it would be helpful as a 'free pass' for having weapons in certain applications, but maybe not.

better way to tell who killed who first in a gun fight. Unless they are using older gun models...

Nothing that a little electrical tape cant overcome. I'll keep my M1911A1. This is just another way to persecute our military and police. It's not like theres not enough video cameras and lyers in the world anyways.

animemaster11/16/09 at 4:41 pm
Better way to keep track of bad people. I wouldn't mind subsidizing all guns to put something like this in them. I support the right to have a gun but I don't have a problem with having a record of when, where, and why it is used, these things are deadly weapons.
----
All is good until you find your self being the one that has to do the shooting.

Nice a gun that needs batteries to be used. I'm sure the Military and police will love that one. Wait mr. bad guy. I need to change the bateries in my gun so I can shoot.

I don't like it because it is another form of control the government has over us.

you dont need batteries to shoot it the batteries power the black box thing

People can always mod there guns or make it from scratch but that illegal.

and i still say its a good way to keep track of bad cops and maybe in tazzers so cops don,t tazzer every one that they pass.

How can a good cop refuse?

How can a good cop refuse?

I gather this is just for law enforcers. I wonder though if it can be used for any one replenishing their ammunition through their supplier. Could this be used to track any usage?

Some of the comments, thought, suggest that further research needs to be undertaken in order for this machine to be entirely reliable. If it is proven not to be reliable then the doubt will be used within the law if necessary.

Charlie Bernardi
www.airsoftking.com/

I think that is a good way to keep good cops good. It would make it harder for bad cops and I believe it would make the public feel more at ease those who worry about "Training Day" events.

www.jdairsoftguns.com



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