A smart gun that tracks targets automatically

[MoxyDave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlEFVOavvUM&hd=1
Project Gazelle from Tracking Point (http://tracking-point.com/) is an interesting rifle & scope combo that can automatically track targets for greater accuracy. Is this a viable technology? It looks to me like they've adapted facial/pattern recognition software common in most cameras today and integrated it with the rifle's trigger mechanism. My guess is it simply doesn't fire until the target is within the reticle even after you've pressed the trigger. An interesting use of this technology ... I wonder how well it actually works.

[MoxyDave]

Ars Technica has an article about this new system with a bit more detail:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/17000-linux-powered-rifle-brings-auto-aim-to-the-real-world/

It works exactly as I had imagined; you select your target with the trigger, and the rifle fires once the target is within the reticle. The computer calculates all kinds of ballistic data, even including the age (round count?) of the barrel.

I think this is some very interesting technology!