lvc@cbnews.ATT.COM (Lawrence V. Cipriani) (05/24/89)
From: lvc@cbnews.ATT.COM (Lawrence V. Cipriani) This was copied from the April '89 issue of the Commmunications of the ACM, pg 417. A laser gun that can impart harmless "fatal" and superficial shots has been developed at Sandia National Laboratories for use as a training tool by the U.S. military. A vest worn while using the Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) gun emits a series of beeps if the laser beam hits a vital area and sporadic blips if it grazes non-fatal spots. Information officer Will Keener points out that full-scale TESS production is about three years away and that "only 20 prototypes have been manufactured so far." Copyright (C) 1989 by the Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. [The ACM specifically allows copying provided it isn't for direct commercial advantage.] -- Larry Cipriani, att!cbnews!lvc or lvc@cbnews.att.com
merkel@shuxd.att.com (Tom Merkel) (05/25/89)
From: merkel@shuxd.att.com (Tom Merkel)
This is all from memory, but here goes:
I first saw this technology years ( 10 or more ) ago in a
short film on the training of guards for nuclear materials
in transport. These people trained with a small laser
( similar to a laser gunsight ) mounted on the rifle barrel.
The sensor was a detector on a chest belt. While not as
sophisticated as the vest described, it did allow for
realistic training. If you were hit, you were supposed to
fall down on the spot. Both bad guys and good guys were
equipped the same. I remember that the bad guys got to pick the
battle/ambush, the good guys had to hold them off long enough
for reinforcements to arrive.
--
Tom Merkel | merkel@shuxd.att.com
Hard work never hurt anyone, | att!shuxd!merkel
but why take chances. | merkel%shuxd@att.arpa
---
Tom Merkel | merkel@shuxd.att.com
Hard work never hurt anyone, | att!shuxd!merkel
but why take chances. | merkel%shuxd@att.arpapaulf@uunet.UU.NET (Paul D. Franzon) (05/26/89)
From: ece-csc!paulf@uunet.UU.NET (Paul D. Franzon) For years the US Army has been using the MILES simulator system to simulate hits and near misses in force on force training exercises. I must admit I know nothing about its technical details. Every soldier and armoured vehicle wears a brace of detectors. Every rifle, MG and weapon system emits a beam whenever a blank is fired (a blank is fired so that the weapon signature is simulated -- this includes, tank, and missile signatures etc.) Near misses can be detected and hits either disble your weapon, cause a light/noise or stop your vehicle, depending on what you are. MILES has been in use for several years now and the US Army seems happy with it. It is particularly good for armoured battles. With such a large investment in it I don't know why the Army would consider replacing it, and why companies would invest in developing more such systems. Paul Franzon Captain, Royal Australian Infantry Corps S-2 1-120th Inf (M) NCARNG -- "Give the Enemy every opportunity to die for his country"
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (06/01/89)
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) >MILES has been in use for several years now and the US Army seems happy with >it. It is particularly good for armoured battles. With such a large >investment in it I don't know why the Army would consider replacing it, >and why companies would invest in developing more such systems. The companies are investing (and lobbying) in hopes of getting a fat government contract to develop a new system. And the Army is considering it because contractors have Congressmen. Rational military needs have nothing to do with it. :-) Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu