SmartMAG - Automated Self-Indexing Magazine and Rapid Selective Deployment System

Future weapon system operators of attack vehicles will use advanced ammunition technology as a battlefield force multiplier providing improved lethality and tactical superiority against the enemy. This will be accomplished by employing a suite of tactical,"Smart"rounds with varying capabilities to carry out defeat of the enemy. The use of Smart rounds will result in the soldier's spending less time engaged in costly and potentially deadly fire exchanges with enemy forces. The last barrier to achieving this critical tactical integration is a"Smart-Feed"magazine and deployment system to first locate the system-selected round in a magazine, and then rapidly deploy the selected smart round to the feeder at the gun turret. SMRC proposes the SmartMAG, an automated self-indexing magazine and rapid selective deployment mechanism. With the press of a button in the cockpit, the SmartMAG locates the selected round, transfers the round to the linkless feed system, then rapidly deploys the round to the feeder at the gun turret - all within seconds. The SmartMAG system will consist of an Ammunition Control Unit coupled with a Red-Green-Blue color sensor, a standard magazine storage unit, and a sprocket transfer assembly based on the current magazine technology available.