[1]Image Source: http://www.darpa.mil/
For snipers, accuracy is everything. To that end, when unfavorable conditions occur (i.e., heavy winds, or dusty terrain), making an accurate contact with a target is challenging to say the least.
To help snipers gain more accuracy, DARPA, [2] The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has developed a first-of-its-kind technology using self-guiding bullets. The EXACTO program designed the smart bullets to use a real-time optical guidance device to help track and direct projectiles to their targets by compensating for weather, wind, target movement and different factors that would otherwise impede self-made hits.
With accuracy standards that are able to achieve even at a distance of 1.2 miles, the self-guiding bullet works by using optical sensors that are found on the surface of its nose. These sensors are capable of gathering in-flight information which is then transmitted to the bullet’s internal electronic systems. After the data is interpreted by the latter, it is then used to adjust a number of fins that are nestled along the exterior of the bullet, making the bullet change its direction. Source [3]
The EXACTO program recently began live-fire testing demonstrating the ability of an in-flight guidance of .50-caliber bullets. The end result? The self-guided bullet was dead on! In fact, in the video, watch as a bullet was purposely fired above the target and the bullet actually changes directions mid-rangein order to self-correct.