4 ms·
Define 'small'? Recoil and weight are the primary factors, I assume, in why no such beast exists. Anything in the size of the average quad-copter is going to
by bmelton 12y ago
Define 'small'? Recoil and weight are the primary factors, I assume, in why no such beast exists.
Anything in the size of the average quad-copter is going to have to manage the fact that its flight trajectory would be significantly altered with each shot. The guys at Red Jacket invented something like that, and the way they mitigated the recoil was to have the barrel pointing straight down, which limits the effectiveness dramatically.
You're right, clearly, in that there's a lot of room between the missile and surveillance drones, but big enough to fire a rifle round might be a bit bigger than you suspect.
- downandout 12y agoAgreed that a quad-copter wouldn't be able to handle the recoil, and that weight is a factor - bullets are (relatively) heavy. I was just saying that something the size of a Predator drone isn't necessary for close combat. I'm sure that there is some engineering magic that could be done to manage both of these issues in a relatively small package.
- stcredzero 12y agoA swarm of small drones with photographic flashers could give one side of a gunfight a huge advantage.
- jqm 12y agoFloat the barrel and have the recoil absorbed by springs or shock absorbers. Kind of like cannons on 18'th century ships rolling backwards as they fired absorbing much of the recoil until stopped by a rope. Sure, there is still a flight modifying force. Calculate and correct it as much as possible with an equal and opposite force from the motors or a blank countershot. I do think smaller weaponry of this type is coming.