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Smart Bullets Phone Home

giampy writes "New Scientist reports the creation of a 'smart bullet' that can be fired at a target and then transmit back informations via wireless connection. The range is 70m. The project is funded by Lockeed Martin and its official goal is the detection of hidden TNT."

5 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Semi-Dupe by TwistedKestrel · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't know why nobody has noticed this yet, but we already covered this topic a couple days ago.

    1. Re:Semi-Dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Semi-dupe? In fact, it's the same project at the same university.

  2. Re:Hrmm by Lord+Kano · · Score: 1, Informative

    TNT is extremely stable, when compared to Dynamite. (Contrary to popular cartoon based opinions, they are NOT the same thing) You can set off a stick of dynamite by just dropping it a ahort distance, or on a bumpy automobile ride. If it sits around it becomes even less stable. If you happen to come across an old stick or two, LEAVE IT THE HELL ALONE!

    And you DON'T want to try burning it. Seriously

    Small amounts of C4 can be used to start a fire, especially when dealing with moist kindling. Same situation though, it's not a game you want to play unless you have no other choice.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  3. Re:Hrmm by BravoFourEcho · · Score: 5, Informative

    As an ex-EOD tech, I can assure you that your impressions are quite incorrect.

    All explosives are detonated by shock and/or heat. The amount of either depends on the formula used for the explosives. RDX, which is the active component of C-4, is quite sensitive on it's own. C-4 adds plasticizers to both reduce the sensitivity of RDX and to make it more plyable (hence, "plastic" explosives). Setting off explosives uses blasting caps (detonators) to provide the approriate shock to cause the explosive to detonate. This is accomplished by setting off a sensitive amount of explosive, which detonates a slightly more powerful explosive, on up until the last bit is powerful enough to set off the C-4.

    The reason that you are required to turn off cell phones and other radio transmitters is because the blasting caps are usually electrically primed, and stray RF can set the caps off. Those long lead wires make very good antennae.

    --

    What good is a double standard if you can't enforce it?
  4. Re:Thinking about defusing bombs... by mikael · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sandbags seem to be the preferred option. They're cheap, and the contents can be easily found anywhere in the world. Other methods of containment include using a U shaped metal barrel pointing upwards towards the sky. Apparently when this was used once, it actually shot a hole through the clouds above. The closest anyone has come up with using a flexible but strong substance has probably been with airlines experimenting with kevlar straps tied around baggage containers. The straps were flexible enough to stretch with the blast, but strong enough to keep the container in shape.

    --
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