The '''Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System''' ('''ARSS''') was an experimental robotic weapons system that was in development by the U.S. Army since 2005,<ref name="Register">{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/21/arss_hover_sniper/|title=Flying-rifle robocopter: Hovering sniper backup for US troops|last=Page |first=Lewis|date=21 April 2009|work=The Register|accessdate=2009-04-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090424021511/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/21/arss_hover_sniper/| archivedate= 24 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> but no information about the status of the system has been made public since 2010.
The ARSS consisted of a remotely operated sniper rifle attached to an unmanned autonomous helicopter.<ref name="PM">{{cite news|title=UAV Helicopter Brings Finesse to Airstrikes|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4313331.html|last=Hambling|first=David|date=May 2009|work=Popular Mechanics|accessdate=2009-04-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090421003600/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4313331.html| archivedate= 21 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> It was intended for use in urban combat or for several other missions requiring snipers.<ref name="DR">{{cite magazine|url=http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/04/army-tests-new.html#more|title=Army Tests Flying Robo-Sniper|last=Hambling|first=David|date=April 21, 2009|magazine=Wired, "Danger Room" blog|accessdate=2009-04-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090423034228/http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/04/army-tests-new.html| archivedate= 23 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> Flight tests were scheduled to begin in Summer 2009.<ref name="Register" />
The rifle, a semiautomatic RND Manufacturing Edge 2000 firing the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, was mounted on a stabilized platform, which was attached to the underside of a Vigilante 502 UAV.<ref name="PM" /> The helicopter was to be flown by an autopilot while a human controller aims and fires the rifle, which may fire up to ten well-aimed shots per minute.<ref name="PM" /> The rifle platform, called the ''Precision Weapons Platform'' (PWP), was designed by Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory and was equipped with a situational awareness camera and a two-level zoom scope.<ref name="SDL">{{cite web|url=http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/arss|title=ARSS - Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System|publisher=Space Dynamics Laboratory|accessdate=2009-04-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090419173737/http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/arss| archivedate= 19 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
The system as a whole was being developed under the Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate in the course of its ''Aerial Delivery of Effects from Lightweight Aircraft'' (ADELA) program.<ref name="SDL" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517481,00.html |title=U.S. Army Tests Flying Robot Sniper |publisher=Fox News |date=2009-04-22 |accessdate=2009-04-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426022909/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C517481%2C00.html |archivedate=26 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> It used much commercial off–the–shelf hardware to reduce cost and development time. For instance, the system was controlled using an Xbox 360 video game controller.<ref name="PM" />
Other weapons considered for use with the ARSS included the M249 or M240 machine guns, the AA-12 shotgun or non-lethal weapons. The ARSS hardware could also be installed on fixed-wing UAVs or ground combat robots.<ref name="PM" /> The Lockheed Martin One Shot sniper system was being considered for addition to ARSS.<ref name="darpaOneShot">{{Cite news |last=McHale |first=John |url=http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/article-display/4803939546/articles/military-aerospace-electronics/executive-watch-2/2010/12/laser-based-sniper.html |title=Laser-based sniper system ordered by DARPA from Lockheed Martin |work=Military Aerospace |date=18 December 2010 |accessdate=19 February 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/arss ARSS website at the Space Dynamics Laboratory] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101212184903/http://advancedtechnologiesinc.com/uav/pdfs/vigilante_sept04.pdf 4MB brochure]
Category:Airborne military robots