Meet The MORPOWER UG-02: Remote Controlled Gun Turrets?

Estimated studying time: 6 minutes

Though harking back to futuristic motion films, remote-controlled weapons such because the MORPOWER UG-02, are a tangible actuality. These ideas have lengthy captured our creativeness and made appearances in in style movies like The Jackal, Shooter, and distinguished video video games equivalent to Name of Responsibility, that includes the enduring sentry gun. Some of the notable cases was the deployment of a remote-controlled turret within the 2020 assassination of Iran’s main nuclear scientist. Truly, these methods, whereas seemingly complicated, are comparatively simple and may considerably improve drive capabilities below the best circumstances.

When strolling the rows of cubicles upon cubicles at SHOT Present in early 2023, I stumbled upon an organization referred to as MORPOWER. What drew me to their desk was the rifle that they had arrange on a tripod that was being moved and aimed remotely. The turret on show was an early prototype referred to as the UG-01 which appeared to be stable proof of idea. After getting in contact, I realized they had been creating the UG-02 which I used to be in a position to borrow for testing.

So What Is The UG-02?

Lots of it’s possible you’ll be questioning what the UG-02 is, and I’ll clarify. This remote-controlled turret enhances an current weapon system to be operated from a distance. Whereas it doesn’t embody a firearm, it has the clamps to mount most traditional ARs which function collapsable shares. It consists of an RC head and a management interface. This was designed for use in “harmful taking pictures or searching environments.” The principle profit of those types of methods is minimizing personnel publicity. Much like drones, they permit operators to fireside from behind cowl.

How Does it Work?

The UG-02 can transfer in two-axis. Facet to aspect and up and down. The remote-controlled head has clamps to securely lock down a normal AR. Aiming for the turret is achieved by live-streaming video from a digicam mounted behind the optic of the firearm. To remotely fireplace the weapon mounted to the UG-02, there’s a pin on a solenoid that’s pulled into the set off when activated. To energy the entire turret a 12V energy supply is required. I used a 10Ah battery for only a couple hours with out concern.

The RC head is managed remotely by way of a wi-fi black field that can also be supplied by MORPOWER. This case is past cool. Whereas it seems like a standard briefcase on the surface, when opened it seems like one thing straight out of a film. It has antennas that fold down, a complete array of buttons that may be programmed to satisfy the tip person’s wants, gimbal controls for aiming the turret, and a television display for dwell streaming wi-fi footage straight from the turret. Whereas the model I had solely had a video streaming vary of roughly 400 yards, I used to be advised that with elevated energy video and management transmission might attain ranges as much as 30 kilometers.

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Distant Capabilities

One factor to pay attention to when working distant methods is latency. Actuality strikes quicker than video is transmitted and with regards to taking pictures you need it to be in actual time. When the controller was only a few ft from the turret the live-streamed picture from the turret was solely about 0.20 seconds behind actuality. This shocked me and proved to be in pair with many digital riflescopes presently in the marketplace.

MORPOWER UG-02 Efficiency

Throughout my testing, the UG-02 labored fairly properly. The RC head is kind of hefty which helps hold the system from rocking below recoil. It might shoot rapidly, and bounce again to its authentic level of goal after the primary shot. The gimbal within the management field allowed for a reasonably effective goal, however wouldn’t transfer very quick between targets. Proven beneath are two movies of the UG-02 being put to make use of:

Security Options

Being a distant management, I used to be initially fairly skeptical and frightened about safely working it. MORPOWER consists of guide stops that may be screwed into the bottom to restrict each horizontal and vertical axis motion. Nevertheless, there isn’t any security on the hearth button within the management field, and I want there was a lockout for that. One other concern I’ve is the potential for a misfire. Being operated by radio indicators, I used to be fairly paranoid that some random radio wave from a walkie-talkie, or a storage door opener might have moved or fired the turret. I by no means had this concern, and I’m no HAM operator, nevertheless it was one thing that was at all times at the back of my thoughts. Nevertheless, every thing labored as meant all through my time with the UG-02.

Conclusion

New know-how continues to flood the market, providing a unending stream of capabilities. The MORPOWER UG-02 system shines as a really perfect alternative for deployment on armored automobiles, enhancing base and border safety. Notably, MORPOWER has restricted its gross sales completely to authorities entities, stopping civilian entry. This versatile system not solely serves as a distant firing resolution but additionally excels in location monitoring. In essence, it represents a mix of simple but highly effective know-how that each intrigues and terrifies whereas shedding mild on the evolving world we inhabit. The long run is now, so put together accordingly.

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