TALON Gyro-Stabilized Weapon Mount
In another case of reality approaching science fiction, Paradigm SRP has brought us one step closer to one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies (to put you in the mood):
The TALON is a “gyro-stabilized marksman platform” designed for precision shooting applications from moving and stationary vehicles. Meaning Helicopters. Boats. Ground vehicles. It looks like you can put any nearly any rifle into it and the two-axis, servo controlled turret will allow you to lock on a target and fire accurately regardless of the platform you are currently riding in. The system appears to be managed by an integrated screen, fire control system and handheld controller. The entire unit is portable and can be carried by one person, mounting it in place using quick disconnect mounts (though they discuss being able to lock it down with tie down straps as well).
We are close approaching our own doom at the hand of our robot overlords, methinks. Five years ago we posted about a patent on South Korean sentry robot. Last October we discussed the $150 budget build for a sentry gun.
Now we have TALON. Paradigm SRP also discusses the ability to designate, and stay locked on to, a target. It is clearly not terribly difficult to marry some of these technologies to make an autonomous sentry gun–all we are waiting on now is their green light for deployment into the field. Truly amazing. And terrifying. Apparently they will have a demo unit at SHOT Range day, and they are already on my list of vendors to visit…
You can nerd out on the technical specifications at their website at: http://www.paradigmsrp.com/talon-universal-weapons-mount/technical-overview/