This helicopter-borne robot sniper can fire 7 to 10 aimed shots per minute, and does so using a modified Xbox 360 controller plugged into a laptop. Each trigger squeeze costs $US4 (320 Microsoft Points).
Wired wrote up the ARSS (stop snickering, those in Commonwealth nations) – which stands for Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System, and imagines it could find greater use to a military that finds itself dealing more with quasi-criminal activity such as piracy and hostage situations.
Remote snipers still need training on top of their existing marksmanship expertise. But those operating this drone use a modified 360 controller in a literal point-and-shoot situation. The shooter is supported by auto-correct software and a stabilized turret. Instead of a fixed wing drone blasting a $US100,000 Hellfire missile that could blow up noncombatants, the ARSS is more surgical, firing .338 rounds costing $US4 each at intended targets.
Video games and drone operation aren’t a new story. But correct me if I’m wrong, this is the first military asset I’ve seen (in development) that uses an actual commercially-available game controller.
Army Tests Flying Robo-Sniper [Wired via Fox News
Will
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 12:22 PMI reckon some time in the future, when you play ‘online’ instead of a virtual environment, you will be flying a real military aircraft somewhere else in the world. Who needs pilots when you have thousands of excellent gamers out there with the right skills.
DjVu
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 1:14 PMOn the Future Weapons show, they had a Mule transport vehicle that was remote controlled via a 360 controller.
The Isreali army also control one of their new spy robots with a PS3 controller (can’t remember if its an official one or 3rd party)
CyK
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 3:14 PMFoster-Miller Defense Technology Solutions has demo’d the use of a 360 controller to control an explosive and scout robot.
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/05/us-army-using-xbox-360-controller-in-future-combat-systems-tests/
Chris Barns
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 4:01 PMHay Will. There is already a movie about that. Toys with Robin Williams.