This month the U.S. Army's Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) program tested the AimLock Stabilized Weapon Platform for the first time during a live fire exercise. This ungainly-looking gun seeks to revolutionize the average infantryman's combat effectiveness by removing human error from the equation entirely.

A civilian development company called Rocky Mountain Scientific Laboratory (RMSL), based in Littleton, Colorado, designed the AimLock system. This smart gun's goal is to aid engagement of moving targets, mitigate "shooter wobble" when firing from the standing position, eliminate shooter error, and significantly reduce target acquisition time. Here's how it works:

"An electromechanical system translates an "aiming error" signal from a target tracking system into dynamic "pointing corrections" for handheld devices to drastically reduce pointing errors due to man-machine wobble without specific direction by the user. The active stabilization targeting correction system works by separating the "support" features of the handheld device from the "projectile launching" features, and controlling their respective motion by electromechanical mechanisms."

The barrel and receiver of the rifle are independently articulated from the part of the rifle the operator holds. A carriage holds the rifle, separating it from the operator's point of contact (the grips, butt, sights and trigger). In practice, this setup minimizes the rifleman's physical effect on the weapon.

AimLock's target tracking software and integrated processing hardware monitors the rifleman's target relative to his point of aim. A camera mounted to the front of the carriage collects target data. The system's ballistic computer software then processes and extrapolates how best to correct the rifleman's aim. The operator sees the camera output either via a heads-up display or in his optic.

The system physically corrects aim with electromechanical actuators, redirecting the rifle's line of sight. This means a soldier simply has to aim near a target and the AimLock Stabilized Weapon Platform will correct for any mistakes, effectively creating a "snap to target" capability. In the future, the AimLock system might also act as a target designation system for other unit members or command and control elements. The technology also has the potential to greatly improve the accuracy of small arms fired from moving vehicles and aircraft.

The AimLock System has a single integrated camera mounted between the carriage's sub-frame. A large cheek riser brings the sight, which displays feed from the camera, into the operator's eye-line. Two carbon fiber tubes make up the frame of the carriage. The butt assembly, hardware housing, and rifle mounts appear to be made from polymer.

AimLock is currently in development at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). The U.S. Army established ARDEC in the late 1970s, to develop new technology and improve weapons and munitions already in service. AimLock is one of over fifty technologies currently in development under the AEWE program. The U.S. Army established the program to develop and test ways to increase the capabilities and lethality of small units. AEWE is part of the U.S. Army's larger Force 2025 initiative, which wants to develop the tech and strategy for future conflicts.

While the current system prototype is ergonomically problematic, the AimLock system will eventually become a standalone integrated weapon without the need for the bulky carriage shown above. Delivery of a successful AEWE system is scheduled for next summer, and while the project is not classified, the Army has yet to published reports on the live fire exercises carried out at Fort Benning, GA earlier this month.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io