Shot Counting and

Advance Weapons Waveform Diagnostics

May14, 2009, Version 1-6

The Visible Assets Shot Counter is capable of counting live rounds fired, provide
detailed interval statistics on weapon wear (Mean Kinetic Shots) based on
calculated barrel temperature and live rounds fired, and provide detailed real-time
analysis and timing of near all mission critical mechanical events during live
rounds fired (Advanced Weapon Waveform Diagnostics). We provide simple
examples of waveform diagnostics on a Military M4A1 (Colt Model 921) NATO
Spec M1913, 30 round magazine – fired in “full auto” mode. The Shot Counter is
based on two full custom chips and uses IEEE 1902.1 data communication.
Visible Assets, Inc.
195 Bunker Hill Ave.
Stratham, NH 03885
617-395-7601
 M4 Tag Specification
• Rated 20,000 Shots @ 1,000 G’s ½ MSEC
• 99.9% Accuracy on Counts (Auto and Semi Auto Mode)
• Battery TL-5902 – Expected Life 20 Years
• Battery CR2525 – Expected Life 5 Years
• Tags Fit Into Standard M4 Grip
• Tags Sense Weapon Acceleration, and Provide Full Finite
Impulse Filters on the Waveform.
• Bona Fide Shots Require Waveform “Confirmation” to be
Counted – Does Not Use Audio or Impulse Height.
• No False Positives Based on Dropping, or Dry Shots.
 RuBee M4 Tag
Tags are built into standard M4 Grip, with optional advance
diagnostic connector for Ballistic Response Plot data
collection.
 Small Arms Microchip Block Diagram

Optional Waveform
HB Connector

Custom Var
Accelerometer
Gain Amplifier

Crystal 4 Bit MCU

Epson 6300
Li Battery Cap 1
1Kb Memory
CR2025 Cap 2
Cap 3
Cap 4 Custom RuBee
IEEE 1902.1
Modem
Ferrite Antenna

Semi-Custom Chip Full Custom Chip

 Mechanical Events in “Full Auto” Mode
1
8
4
3
5
7

6
2

1. Bullet starts to accelerate 1 to 8: Firing Rate

2. Bullet passes gas port 1 to 4: Bolt Carrier Transit
3. Bullet leaves barrel Time
4. Bolt carrier reaches rear stop 4 to 6: Re-chamber Time
5. Buffer weights reach rear stop
6. Bolt carrier chambers next round
7. Buffer weights hit forward stop
8. Next round fires
 30 Round Burst Timing

Firing rate increases during burst from 12 to 15 rounds per

second, on 30 round magazine in “full auto” mode.
 30 Round Burst Timing

Bolt Carrier Transit Time decreases from 23 mSec to

19 mSec (18%) on 30 round magazine in “full auto” mode
 30 Round Burst Timing

Re-chamber Time decreases from 46 mSec to 37 mSec (20%)

on 30 round magazine during “full auto” mode.
 60 Round Burst Timing

Barrel Temperature 23 C Barrel Temperature 70 C

The first 30 round magazine begins with a barrel temperature of 23C and has a
high interval standard deviation (scattered dots), and raises barrel temperature to
70C. The second 30 round magazine started with that 70C temp. The intervals in
second magazine have a low standard deviation, very tight and predictable.
 M4 With and Without
M203 Grenade Launcher
Bullet passes gas port

Bolt carrier chambers

next round (66 mS)

Bolt carrier reaches

rear stop 24 mS

Bullet passes gas port

Bolt carrier reaches

rear stop 35 mS Bolt carrier chambers
next round (92 mS)

An example, Ballistic Response Plot “diagnostic” of an M4 without grenade launcher (top)

and with a M203 grenade launcher (bottom) added. It is clear that the extra weight, shifts
timing by over 30% and as a result will also slow down rate of fire.
 M4 with M203 Grenade Launcher

Bullet passes gas port Bolt carrier chambers

next round (92 mS)
Bolt carrier reaches
rear stop (35 mS)

Note Timing Differences:

- bolt carrier transit is 10 mS slower and ⅓ the height
- re-chamber is 26 mS slower and ½ the height