Project X. Stingo.

100 Series.

Project No. PX0073.

After watching Afghan and Iraqi war footage we have come up with some devices that could save lives. The way forwards is most certainly unmanned !

THE STINGO 100 SERIES

OVERVIEW.

We aim to produce devices that will cover a range of jobs on the battlefield without the need for a soldier having to be in the immediate area.

CONSULTATION.

The consultation stage produced a fantastic thumbs up for all our ideas from Cadets to Captains. The people we asked coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan said they wanted the units NOW !

Unfortunately this project is currently at the design stage and in the near future we hope to start the red tape with the relevant govt. agencies.

THE UNIT.

This will be the size of a remote control car with A/T tyres. The hand-held controller is reusable and resembles an R/C transmitter but with a TFT screen and mounted in a rugged case.

The unit will be equipped with a day and night vision camera and a regular issue automatic pistol. The body will house running gear and a quantity of high explosive.

USES.

The unit will be capable of being used as an observation unit in daylight or at night. It will be able to take shots at enemy targets using the onboard pistol and explode at a chosen target site or if tampered with.

INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

The prototype units will use already existing parts. The pistol will be one issued currently. The transmitter will be an existing R/C model unit and so will all the main unit electronics. The running gear will utilize currently manufactured components for the professional off-road R/C market.

At this stage a series of tests will be run.

Then the various areas of improvement we have already identified will be handed out as sub-contracts and / or R+D projects.

The tyres which we have pretty well established need to be of the R/C "Monster Truck" type agricultural tyre. Several owners of these vehicles have already said that they are great in all conditions / surfaces. A 4" or 5" tyre has been recommended.

The running gear will be of a 2 speed setup all controlled from the same stick. Creep mode will be used for general moving about whilst observing or aiming gun and generally trying not to be seen. This also reserves power. When spotted or in a position where you may be spotted a slight resistance on the joystick will tell the operator he has reached the point where the unit has the power booster ready and from that point further pressure increases speed.

The pistol was originally to be of a limited use type likened to that already in use as spotting rifles in the LAW 94 etc. These are plastic construction where possible with a carbon fibre barrel. They are semi-auto and for our use should be about 10 shots or more if possible.

Further notes on the pistol : A balance has to be found between where the gun is mounted and the calibre of the round it fires. A small calibre pistol with a smaller magazine could be mounted in a turret situation thus allowing faster target acquisition and simpler sighting as you would only have to look at the target with the camera to be sighted. Some are arguing that if the pistol was mounted along the lines of the wheel centres and the camera looked in the same direction as the pistol the operator would only have to use the directional controls to acquire the target and the recoil would not turn the unit over ! In this case the turret and all its running gear, channel use and control system goes thus saving money and making the unit simpler to operate. The unit would also be lower and less easy to spot. The main advantage would be the use of a larger calibre gun and more ammunition for it. A tried and tested and readily available automatic pistol would save time and money. One issue brought up was that if a unit should fall into enemy hands they would then acquire a weapon but this was soon rectified by the inclusion of the explosive charge that would go off if the unit was opened. A currently issued pistol loaded, cocked and then dropped into a shaped recess fitting the gun was preferred. This would be laying flat with a trigger actuating pin coming from the body and into the trigger guard.

The radio system would eventually be of the coded type. This will be a frequency changing system where not only the frequencies are random but also the timings. A jamming system would operate a red light on the transmitter and stop the unit until the jammer was switched off or changed frequencies. The transmitter would be enclosed in the usual army proof aluminium box and be re-usable many times and would operate all Project X STINGO products. It will be sealed against total immersion in water and will float. Controls are Forward / backwards , left / right on joysticks , main "POWER" switch , covered "EXPLODE" switch , covered "ARM" switch ( this places the detonator into a pre-moulded hole in the explosives mechanically and completes a circuit which illuminates a light on the transmitter reading "ARMED". ) a covered "FIRE GUN" recessed button, an "INVERT" button which inverts the image on the TFT screen should the unit have to operate upside down, an "ON" light , a "JAM" light and the "ARMED" light.

The explosive element will be PE4 type plastic moulded around the spaces left in the bodywork, around the outsides and on top and bottom of the unit. There will be an anti-personnel element in the form of ball bearings / chopped steel rod / steel splinters etc. Because the unit could be used for long periods just as an observation device the explosives cannot be left in a state of readiness due to possible accidental detonation so the "ARMED" switch will be under a cover which can be flicked up by the left thumb and the switch operated with the same digit wherein the detonator is mechanically placed in the hole on the explosives pack and a signal sent to the transmitter which will illuminate the "ARMED" light. If necessary, the "ARMED" switch can be switched off and this will retract the detonator back to its original position. Then the operator does the same thing with the right hand to fire the charge. The transmitter can then be set to the next STINGO task.

MODELS.

There will be a range of STINGOs from the main unit with all features to dedicated use units specializing in one job. See chart below.

The STINGO 100 A has all options. It is best used where long observations are possible with the added bonus of being able to take out equipment / personnel or perform sabotage missions day or night.

The STINGO 100 B is for seeking and destroying a target in a relatively short time span in daylight or at night. The creep speed setting allows the unit to sneak up close and with a max setting on the transmitter rush the target at the high speed setting.

The STINGO 100 C does the same as the B model but during the day. There is no night vision or 2 speed gearbox thus saving money.

ACCESSORIES.

All the usual rechargers. Disguise kits for different working environments. A backpack to manhandle the kit which also has a flexible solar panel to keep all batteries in the pack topped up. Solar panels on the Stingo and on the transmitter would also help extend battery life.

UPDATE...

We have selected some personnel we think will be good at coming up with new ideas on this project and put the designs to them with the following results :

When the arm button is pressed and the motor which inserts the detonator into the explosive could also operate a catch which releases the pistol from the unit which is then retrieved during backup / cleanup operations so as the unit does not fall into enemy hands and also saves money.

As the unit operates upside down also it may be a good idea to have the camera on a weighted swivel so as to right itself and keep the image up the right way or the simple way is to have the TFT screen on the controller invertible either manually or the image inverted electronically via a button. Image stabilization would also help.

Problems with case ejection on the pistol may result when a pistol is fired on its side.

Having some solar cells on the unit may extend time in the field or allow unit to stop somewhere safe while it recharges thus saving time or the possibilities of detection / compromising position / throwing up dust whilst returning to base for recharge. Solar film chargers are now printed on rolls so are 90% less expensive than the old type silicone solar cells. Since we seem to be fighting in the desert more often now solar should be used more often.

A two way speech system with a speaker on the unit may be useful.

If the pistol is to be left on the unit for exploding then maybe a copper shaped charge strip across it which fires with the main charge will make sure it is never used against us after being retrieved by an enemy.

Have a static satellite relay unit so that large numbers of Stingos can be operated in the area and controlled from anywhere in the world. Maybe a container can be parachuted in with 10 / 15 Stingos on board with the satellite relay station built into the container.

Leave inert Stingos in recreation areas at army bases for soldiers to play with thus getting proficient at controlling them.

Remember to put solar panels on the controller too.

E-Mails please...