A forensic ballistics projectile location system

The potential exists for the detection of ballistics projectiles in flight by electro-optics and allied optical systems which provide discrete numerically coded output signals for the determination of the position and diameter of a projectile passing through the test region. This paper evaluates these technologies that could be applied to the development of a forensic ballistics projectile location system. The requirements of forensic ballistics research for projectile location are discussed and the properties of the electro-optical technologies that favour application to the development of the high-resolution projectile location systems are examined. This paper considers a selection of optical projectile location systems in order to exhibit the principles of operation of detecting both subsonic and supersonic bullets in flight. The forensic applications of the precise measurements of the parameters associated with the motion of the projectile will permit a better understanding of the behaviour of weapons and projectiles in the solving of weapons-related crime.