
When in operation, this system uses its radar to scan the area around the ship for incoming missiles and then fires on them with bursts of fire from its Gatling gun, hopefully destroying them before they can impact the hull. A good example of this type of device is the American Phalanx CIWS, a self-contained system consisting of a 20mm Gatling gun, a radar array, and a computer that handles targeting data. These devices are most commonly used in a naval role, mounted on ships in order to shoot down incoming missiles and enemy aircraft before they can deliver their payload. The main use for modern sentry guns is in CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems) – short-range computer-controlled weapons which are used to destroy incoming projectiles before they can cause any damage. If an IFF signal is not received, then the target is identified as not being friendly (although this does not necessarily mean it is an enemy). How sentry guns determine targets is rarely addressed in science-fiction, but real-world examples generally rely on IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) signals to confirm if a potential target is friendly. The main difficulty with creating a sentry gun system is that it must be able to identify the difference between allies and enemy targets, and do so quickly enough to destroy targets before they can destroy the sentry gun.
#SMART SENTRY GUN SOFTWARE#
The core physical structure of a sentry gun is easy to build, but the sensors and software are a more difficult prospect. However, as is often the case when discussing science-fiction technologies, it is much harder to create a true robotic sentry in real life than it appears. At its core, a sentry gun seems like a very simple system, a weapon attached to an articulated mounting and a system that allows it to track targets. These devices are common in science-fiction and especially video games, and range from the homemade tripod mounted guns built by Team Fortress 2's Engineer to the much more sophisticated versions shown in the deleted scenes of Aliens.

Sentry gun is a catchall name for an automated robotic weapon system that is used in a defensive role, either protecting an area from intruders or destroying incoming projectiles.
