The accurate detection and compensation for the effect of cross winds is the holy grail of sniper scope development. A patent awarded two days ago to the Israeli Government’s Soreq Nuclear Research Center describes a system that can do just that.

The patent describes a LIDAR (Laser Identification Detection And Ranging) unit which works by firing a laser beam at the target. The reflection of the laser is captured by an array of photodiodes. Fluctuations in the signals received by the photodiodes are used to detect both the direction and velocity of cross wind. The system works for targets which are at least 500m away.

USMC
Special Reaction Team (SRT) practicing with M86 Sniper Rifle

Highly sophisticated hunting rifle scopes, for example the Burris Eliminator LaserScope, already incorporate technology that can adjust their aiming point by measuring the target’s range using a rangefinder. If this technology was combined with the Israeli LIDAR system it would take most of the guess work out of long range sniper.

Burris Eliminator LaserScope. Automatically calculates elevation holdover.

The DARPA One Shot next-generation sniper scope program requires cross wind calculation [PDF link] …

The One Shot program will develop a field-testable prototype, observation, measurement, and ballistic calculation system, which enable Snipers to hit targets with the first round, under crosswind conditions, up to the maximum effective range of the weapon (RE). The system developed should provide day and night direct observation of the target, measure all relevant physical phenomena that influence a ballistic trajectory, and rapidly calculate and display both the aim point offset and expected crosswind variability (confidence metric) in the shooters riflescope.

It will be interesting to see if the Israeli system will be used in the One Shot scope.

The patent can be read below … (more…)