--- title: "The US Army Is Testing an Auto-Aiming Part of Its “Iron Man” Suit" description: "The US Army is developing a gun barrel stabilizer for its next-generation rifle that could greatly level out any unwanted or unintended movement." date: "2021-01-21" modified: "2021-01-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/army-testing-auto-aiming-iron-man" categories: - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "iron man suit" - "motion stabilizing" - "the digest" - "us army" --- # The US Army Is Testing an Auto-Aiming Part of Its “Iron Man” Suit ![]() *\Image: SOCOM\* ## Gun Stabilizer The US Army is developing a gun barrel stabilizer for its next-generation rifle that could greatly level out any unintended movement, [*Task & Purpose* reports](). The piece of tech is a leftover part of the military's Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) effort, which was originally part of the US Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) "Iron Man" suit project. The powered suit [was abandoned]() in early 2019 — but the impressive-looking stabilizer shows that portions of its tech could still end up on the battlefield. It also looks like impressive firearm tech on its own. Here's [a GIF]() of the device in action. ## Aim Control Enhancer The "Aim Control Enhancer" (ACE) is designed to remove any unwanted movements from the soldier's supporting hand, much like a camera gimbal. "A user selects a target or a direction, and then the system holds the weapon in the proper orientation," reads the [contract]() for the ACE. "This effort seeks to merely correct for the shaking of the weapon that is not controllable by the user. In this manner, a compact, self-contained unit may be constructed in a form factor that is useful on a tactical rifle." The attachment was initially developed as part of SOCOM's Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), better known as the "Iron Man" suit. TALOS was shut down in February 2019, however, after failing to meet the expectations of the SOCOM leadership. The Army is still looking for a weapon vendor to produce automatic rifles that could make use of the attachment, according to *Task & Purpose*. **READ MORE:** [The Army is testing a piece of SOCOM’s ‘Iron Man’ suit for its next-generation squad weapon]() \[*Task & Purpose*\] **More on hi-tech army suits:** *[The Army Is Spending Millions on Powered Exoskeletons]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()