iPod Touch mounted on M110 Sniper Rifle

[roo_ster]

I bet Steve Jobs didn't see THIS application coming.


http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/01/20/ipod-touch-mounted-on-m110-sniper-rifle/

iPod Touch mounted on M110 Sniper Rifle

We have seen some cool iPhone applications come out for shooting sports. But nothing comes close to the sheer awesomeness of the Knights Armaments M110 iPod Touch mount and accompanying ballistics software.

The M110 is the 7.62×51mm semi-automatic sniper system which won the Army’s competition to replace the aging M24 bolt action sniper system. While it will not replace the M24 in the near future, the system is seeing action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The rifle is based on the SR-25, which in turn is based on the Stoners’ AR-10 design.

Knights Armaments have developed a mounting system for the iPod Touch that attaches to a side mounted picatinny rail. The mount attaches to an Otterbox protective case.



KAC contracted Runaway technologies to build an external ballistics calculator for the iPod Touch / iPhone named Bullet Flight. It is your standard ballistics application. You can set firearm / ammunition profiles, then call up the saved profile and enter your environment information, for example, distance, wind direction, elevation and temperature.



The application is available from the iTunes store for $11.99. It is a lot more expensive than the $4.99 iSnipe application.



We may yet see an iPhone on the battlefield :)

[Manedwolf]

You know, I just thought of another use for that mount. The accelerometers pretty accurately reflect sudden shifts on all three axes. I've got a seismograph app for it, even, and a car performance one that shows braking Gs and lateral Gs.

It could easily record the amount of rise when you're trying to compare different brakes.

It could also show you if you're pulling the rifle to the side at all when making your shot, any lateral movement before it fires.

It could even compare recoil from different rounds if you reload, or just buy different brands and loads or types of surplus.

Not bad for a $229 device. Where do you get this mount? :)

[roo_ster]

The wild man himself, KAC:
http://www.knightarmco.com/

[Manedwolf]

The wild man himself, KAC:
http://www.knightarmco.com/

The app I see there, but I'm not finding the mount. Whoever does their web stuff needs to do associative product crosslinking a bit better.

[roo_ster]

Oh, how shock/water/cold-proof is the iPod?

[Manedwolf]

Oh, how shock/water/cold-proof is the iPod?

That's what the Otterbox is for. Those things are sealed to quite a bit of water depth.

The iPod itself has no moving parts, it's a solid-state device. The worst you could do is freeze the LCD, but a piece of duct tape and a disposable glove warmer on the back of the mount would likely keep it warm enough if it was that cold.

And shock? The new ones, you shake it to shuffle music, and there's an iGolf game where you clutch and swing it as hard as you can like a golf club so the accelerometers will translate your swing. It seems pretty good, there. Recoil would likely not bother it in the least.

My only suggestion to Knights would be a filter cover on the Otterbox to keep the screen low light.

Besides, the thing is $229, flat, and weighs almost nothing. You could have a spare loaded with the same software and data stuffed anywhere in a vest in case the one on the rifle busted.

[Balog]

My wife has one of those Otter boxes, they're amazing. I enjoy mocking Apple things as much as the next guy, but I gotta admit the touch is an amazing device.

[Bogie]

Now, how is this superior to a sheet of laminated paper that is glued to the rifle stock, which doesn't have any batteries?
 

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Now, how is this superior to a sheet of laminated paper that is glued to the rifle stock, which doesn't have any batteries?

One can't watch Desperate Housewives on laminate paper. 

[AJ Dual]

Now, how is this superior to a sheet of laminated paper that is glued to the rifle stock, which doesn't have any batteries?
 

Because paper has a hard time conveying anything more than 2D information. Range vs. angle. to give you hold. Range vs. Air pressure to give you hold. Range vs. temp. to give you hold. Range vs. bullet weight. etc.

You can only do two factors on a static paper chart in an X-Y grid. To get extra "dimentions" of data, need a different sheet for each factor, and you have to manually bring the result from the first factor through. And I don't care how good you are, but only an autistic savant could do all the math for range, firing angle, bullet weight, air pressure, temperature, wind speed, and wind angle, which is seven data dimensions in your head. And that's not the kind of person usually suited to a battlefield, or even a gun range.

(wait, barrel length/expected FPS at the muzzle, that's eight factors...)

And with a heavy VLD bullet, 800 yards + is do-able with the .308, where all those factors can make a difference of severa inches or even feet.

[Bogie]

Well, a lot of stuff stays the same, regardless. I hope they're still carrying paper, for when the thing gets dropped, the batteries die, whatever.
 

[Manedwolf]

Well, a lot of stuff stays the same, regardless. I hope they're still carrying paper, for when the thing gets dropped, the batteries die, whatever.

And iron sights for when all those newfangled EOtechs and ACOGs and Streamlights and all break and batteries die?

New times, new ideas... :)

[Strings]

You know, Shure makes a great set of earbuds for stage musicians: you could use them as hearing protection, be playing your music, and running this...

I think the proper term is "blatant misuse of technology".

 Hmmm... maybe I should look into getting a touch...

[seeker_two]

Wow....now the question is "What tunes do I download for sniper duty?".... 

 Hmmm... maybe I should look into getting a touch...

TMI, brother Strings....TMI..... 

[RevDisk]

Wow....now the question is "What tunes do I download for sniper duty?".... 

Filter, obviously.

"Hey man, nice shot"

[Strings]

What's wrong, Seeker... I thought we were supposed to share our problems here...

"Let the bodies hit the floor... let the bodies hit the floor... "

[MechAg94]

And iron sights for when all those newfangled EOtechs and ACOGs and Streamlights and all break and batteries die?

New times, new ideas... :)

Yeah, those Trijicon batteries suck.  

[jamz]

Cool, the first gay appliance on the battlefield.

[Manedwolf]

Cool, the first gay appliance on the battlefield.

No.

That was the FAMAS.

[Nightfall]

No.

That was the FAMAS.

Win.

[jamz]

Right, I should have said openly gay.  The FAMAS was don't ask, don't tell. :p

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I bet Steve Jobs didn't see THIS application coming.

Maybe that's what made him sick.

 

[Manedwolf]

Maybe that's what made him sick.

 

Gates is the one who has actively funded antigun causes to the tune of a $35,000 donation. AFAIK, I don't know of anything Apple has ever done in that regard. They've been apolitical.

[Marvin Dao]

Well, a lot of stuff stays the same, regardless. I hope they're still carrying paper, for when the thing gets dropped, the batteries die, whatever.

Yep, I'm thoroughly unimpressed with my iPhone/iPods' reliability and there's no way I'd use one in a mission critical role. Far too many possible failure points and issues. This application reminds me of Knights' ChainSAW. Neat to look at and play around with, but an all round bad idea for serious use.

The idea is sound though and could work well with purpose built hardware.

[Strings]

Ok, since nobody has actually answered: where the hell do you get the mount?