 |
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
 |
Super-Resolution Vision System Super Sniper Scope
DARPA's super-resolution vision system (SRVS) works as a super-sniper rife scope. The device allows a sniper to actually see through atmospheric turbulence caused by heat ("heat shimmer") to resolve a distant target.

(super-resolution vision system (SRVS) diagram)
SRVS uses signal processing to take raw images and pick out the ones that are taken during moments of relative clear seeing. This turbulence-generated micro-lensing then stitches these good frames together to provide a clear view of a target.
Those DARPA guys are always thinking ahead; perhaps they could take a tip from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In Field of Fire, an episode broadcast in 1999, a crew member is killed under mysterious circumstances.
Starfleet designated the modified weapon the TR-116a Tactical Sniper Rifle and deployed it for use in situations where high-energy sensor arrays would detect directed energy weapons, thereby revealing the location of the shooter. (This ability to see through walls is also a DARPA priority - maybe they're fans? See the reference below on the Visibuilding program.)
The TR-116a Tactical Sniper Rifle) was equipped with a micro-transporter, which allowed him to beam the bullet into another room only 8-10 centimeters from its target and an exographic targeting sensor which allowed Chu'lak to scan through walls and target victims anywhere on the station from the safety of his quarters. The station's counselor, Lieutenant Ezri Dax, later used a similarly modified rifle to non-lethally stop Chu'lak.

(TR-116a Tactical Sniper Rifle)
From Wired; see also the Visibuilding program.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 9/18/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories -
("
Weapon
")
Bunker Busters and Bore-Pellets
'The first revelation of the new Soviet bore-pellets.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.
Can A Swarm Of Deadly Drones Take Out An Aircraft Carrier?
'The border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.' - Neal Stephenson, 1995.
Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran?
Can one country take another's rain?
We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces
'the real border was defended by ...a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats...' - Neal Stephenson, 1995.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
 |
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Quaise Uses Beams Of Energy To Dig Geothermal Wells
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'
Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...'
Waymo And Tesla 'Autonomous Cabs' Are Piloted By Remote Drivers
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked.
Robot Janitors Get To Work
'A few mechanical cleaning devices crept here and there...'
Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
This is nothing new for science fiction fans!
Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons
'That little robot rabbit knew what it was talking about...'
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
 |