Tagged with a name that reminds me of continuously variable automobile transmissions, Newtown Firearms of Siler City, North Carolina have announced an “infinitely adjustable” gas piston operating system:

With 48-position tuning capabilities, the NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System allows shooters to make adjustments not only for atmospheric conditions but for variances across ammunition suppliers. Using the 48-position adjustable knob, shooters can easily make on-the-fly adjustments to any pressure level within the AR-15 platform producing minimum felt recoil that allows for faster target acquisition while at the same time maintaining all of the typical benefits of a piston driven system, including cooler operating temperatures and easier cleaning.

Newtown Firearms NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System comes with a Nitromet coating and is compatible in all AR-15 platforms with a medium contour .750 barrel. An upgraded physical vapor deposition (PVD) or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is available for those that desire ultimate friction reduction at even lower operating temperatures while increasing the overall performance and lifespan of the NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System.

NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System

• Universal gas piston system with one-piece carrier
• Infinitely adjustable to any pressure level
• 48-position adjustable knob
• Available in Nitromet, PVD or DLC coatings
• Patent No: US 8869674

Newtown Firearms AR-15 with SMAART gas system.

The title image makes it pretty clear how the system works: The regulator has a tapered extension, and is threaded. As the regulator is screwed in, the tapered segment increasingly interrupts the flow of gas to the short-stroke piston, while a simple spring clip keeps the regulator in position.

48 positions seems excessive for a gas regulator, though it is possible Newtown Firearms had a specific problem in mind when they designed the SMAART system.