“Smart Bullet ” Reports Back Wirelessly
Funded by Lockheed Martin, researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville have developed a “smart bullet” 1.7 centimeters in diameter that can be fired at a target from an ordinary paint-ball gun and wirelessly transmit relevant information to a mobile computer up to 70 meters away.
The reusable bullet, coated in an adhesive polymer that sticks to its target, contains a sensor and a battery that enables it to transmit the data.
Testing by students with a prototype bullet fitted with an accelerometer proved successful. Lockheed hopes to widen its potential use and is interested in developing a version capable of detecting traces of TNT in targets, such as a stack of garbage.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the New Scientist (05/28/04); Knight, Will .