Just something I came up with while playing with Wings3d. Whether or not such a thing exists I do not know, but seems like a plausible device.

As shown on picture:

1. GPS reciever module.
2. Data packet relay transmission antenna (burst transmitter).
3. Laser target rangefinder.
4. Mode selection and power switch.
5. Number keypad. Used to assign target ID number (00 sends scout position, 01 - 99 assigns target info friendly/hostile depending on mission.) Also used to program encryption key.
6. "Tagger" button. Single press A/F function. Double press records position, data, and triggers relay.
7. Zoom control rocker.

By using GPS data combined with elevation, range, and bearing the GPS scout binoculars allow for accurate and up to date targeting and reconnaisance in tactical situations.

looks damn good there paul, texture the bugger and render it with GI!!

The model looks great! If you are as good with electronics as you are modeling, there may be a place for you in DoD?

Very nice job!

Very nicely done! I think that it's very interesting to note that a good design usually leads to a very well made model. Your binocs are no exception... well designed and well modeled. :o) I think I'll post a pair of binocs I did a while back. :oP Cheers! M

Very cool. Ya know...I need to do more non-organic stuff.

Great design and model. Really envious here. What's the power source - self contained batteries? - maybe there could be a charging port on it somewhere?

Good point peejay. But making a battery cover fit in the mesh... Errr... Perhaps a bump map made with UV? I suppose it would be possible to add an external power pack with a cord. Not 100% perfect (I know, it's not even a "working" model) but for most rendering purposes it's workable. If I actually change anything though, I'll alter the keypad first. I kinda fudged it because the nature of the mesh. It's kinda hard to use 0-9 on only a 9 digit pad (no place for 0.) Changing it to 12 keys would be better. I suppose the extra 2 keys would be an entry key and another for clear/reset. If this were a real world device, I'd use NiMH batteries and probably have a solar or vehicle plug powered recharging unit. I suppose I like inventing stuff. Just don't have the means or the job where I can actually do it. (So I make models and generalize how they'd work.) You could say that I'm waiting to hear back on college applications so I can make some use of this GI bill thing I'm sitting on (and perhaps learn enough to go about making cool stuff.)

Ok... Reworked the number pad. It wasn't too hard (a simple vertice alignment of sorts and a loop cut, etc.), but now it's more useful (12 keys instead of 9.) Image shows what was done. I also gave it a UV map so it can be numbered when rendered. The UV map grid is visible in the smoothed OpenGL image in Wings3D. I'm not considering mapping the body in the meantime because I think I might go crazy trying to do so. LOL. I guess some people have a knack for making maps, but I'm not one of them.