Interview w/ Biofire's Lead Designer: Features and Reliability
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When I visited Biofire, I was able to spend several hours discussing the history of the gun with its creator, lead designer, and lead engineer. We also completely stripped one of the guns down to its component circuit boards and pins - but much of this information is still under NDA until the guns are available commercially. But I did take some time to speak on camera with Bryan Rogers, who is the lead designer (and the first employee hired by the company's founder).
One of the things that I think really separates Biofire from the other smart guns that have been attempted is the amount of time they spent studying what would actually make a useful biometric pistol. For several years they did conceptual research and interviews, and hands-on testing with a wide variety of potential users, with an early proof of concept gun based on a SIG P320 FCU. Rather than make their own assumptions about what people would be interested in, they went out and found people who wanted a gun for self-defense but had not bought one. The configuration and features of the final Biofire pistol reflect this research, and I think it's a really interesting story.
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Whatever the actual outcome, it's a pleasure to listen to a really thoughtful system designer
Someone actually LISTENING to potential customers? Unheard of! Inconceivable! 🤣
Exactly.
One of the best arm folding competitions I have seen in a long time. :)
😂😂😂😂
@@BiofireUSAnothing against you my good sir, but Ian. I mean, not in vain he's called Gun Jesus, and you might imagine one does not wanna make GUN. JESUS. angry.
@@eduardotrillaud696 OH my!
😁
I can feel how cold that office is just by their arms
Very interesting to see a gun company actually using UX design and focus grouping the customer journey.
With modular design and rapid prototyping with off-the-shelve parts and 3D prints, almost like they're designing a new VR controller.
Yeah I’m a software engineer and gun nerd so this is like crack to me. Shit I’d consider working for these guys. I can put my software skills toward guns? Sounds awesome
Product Manager here and I was pleasantly surprised to see the two worlds collide in this video. Sounds like they did their homework. Can't wait for Ian to get hold of one. 🤞 it lives up to the promise.
@@FreddyRangel85go ahead and apply for an interview then lol
Or it could have been just a song and dance put together by the marketing department for selected content providers.
These guys have done a better job defining a target customer, refining requirements, and validating assumptions than most tech companies I've worked with. I'm betting we'll get some first batch teething issues as with any new product (especially a ground-up gun design), but I have high hopes that this kind of attention to detail and focus will lead to a successful product. Wishing them all the best.
Yeah, this is how we want things to be developed. The worst part is I'll be they don't meet the requirements for ISO 9001. Because certifications don't care about actually being able to do something, just that the proper paperwork is in place!
It would be cool to send one to lockpicking lawyer for him to Mess with.
*Throws gun in pile of magnets* "Done"
He is into guns so it would fit
@@renano95 it has a lock on it and he likes locks
I'd like to see Deviant Ollam and team hack it too.
"I defeated it with only an orange juice bottle"
Guys please don't skip on the opportunity for a round counter and compatible proprietary mags. Not necessary but would be sick.
Built in customizable red dot.
@@mbell9995 why reinvent the wheel? Offer it, but make it accept other red dots
@@BiofireUSA Your slide needing to use a roller delay system also means your gun could be an excellent suppressor host. If you sold a version of this that has a threaded barrel and different user serviceable roller inserts (as different suppressors can vary drastically in backpressure potential) along with a tall docking station that allows the suppressor to remain attached at an angle off a night stand... you would have a very compelling home defense gun. In addition to a round counter, your solenoid trigger could be adapted to a new handgun design that is strictly for competition shooting. You have a lot of good options to explore here. But yeah - don't skimp on cutting out the top for a red dot sight.
@@justme_gb You realize the entire point of that scene is that Harry knows perfectly well that he fired six shots and is bluffing, right? And the round counter will be pointed at you not at your target, so you can still bluff.
I don't think adding gimmicks that drain the battery is a good idea.
Now that Ian has covered this early and interesting firearms company I can't wait for the inevitable "what happened to biofire?" Q&A question in two years.
@@BiofireUSA LMFAO. Mad respect for the lighthearted comeback. I was skeptical of this at first, but I hope you guys succeed, it's really neat to see what you're doing.
@@BiofireUSA I think your system would go very well with positions that may require a firearm but surrounded with dangerous or potentially dangerous population. Or just areas with lots of people with unlimited outcomes. I think prison guards could be a market, or TSA agents, maybe even security in general in public places like schools or government buildings. Either way, I think the design is very cool.
@@BiofireUSA Well it's neat seeing a fully electronic firing mechanism used in a handgun, that's quite a rarity even now
“Who’s your ideal customer?” *Citizens of Elysium*
"The 10mm pistol is a staple in wasteland combat."
Tell me you didn't start with isometric Fallout without telling me you didn't start with isometric Fallout.
@@nutbastard u right lul, I'm only 24. 1st fallout I played was 3, but I went back to 1 & 2 a couple years ago for the history. once you get passed the UI and turned based system, they are really good fleshed out experiences.
HiPoint enters the chat
Since the gun can't be fired in its docked position, a user can have more freedom in ways to conceal it. That means a holster that positively retains the firearm and maybe even charges it while not in use will allow additional layers of security.
When Ian released the first video, i was like "prison guards". These might be the No.1 target for this product. And since the US has this ridiculous prison industry, that might be a good market.
The problem is that by the time they change the rules to allow these weapons, the company would already be bankrupt.
@@ebonitucker4512 They question would be why not?
@@ebonitucker4512 And if this thing works as promised, then it's a brick unless the authorized user has it, right? That's the whole point to the experiment.
You don't want guns on the tier.
The negative model of the P320 worky bits is exactly how I design similar parts. Neat to see that the industry folks do the same thing and I'm on the same track.
I'm never gonna buy one, but it's good to see how much thought went into this. They really back up their product.
Why would you not want one. If it works, it would appear to be the perfect self defence gun. (I am assuming the gun actually works as presented)
@@williamromine5715 Like Bryan said, this product is focused on a certain type of customer. If you don't have kids or roommates that you can't fully trust, you don't really _need_ a smartgun designed to lock out unauthorized users.
@william romine >perfect self defense gun. Handgun. So only 2 points of contact for stability. Limited magazine and anemic cartridge are sub-par for home defense when I have an AR with a 60 round Surefire mag in the closet. This gun is for specific needs and purposes, I don't mean to be too rude but you might be daft if you really think this gun is "perfect" for everyone.
@Biofire and let me clarify, again, I think this is great. It appears to be the best thought-out smart gun so far, and does what it says on the tin. Despite seeing the benefits and shit, I still have 0 need for this gun, it would be a downgrade from my current home defense kit in every single way besides size, and even then it's bigger than my Hellcat anyway. We don't have any children or crack-addled roommates so we don't need anything like this atm. But please don't take me saying this as an insult or criticism, I'm simply not the target demographic.
@@williamromine5715 It costs $1600. It’s way too expensive for what it is. A Ruger LCR and a small safe is much cheaper, and more practical than some bougie smart gun.
I remember asking a police officer once if they used Glock 22s. He replied no we use 9mm. 🤣
One told me they use a 10mn. Not a lie, it was 40S&W, technically 10mm
I mean, he's not wrong, the Glock 22 isn't a 9mm.
@@stevenbobbybills What caliber is it then?
@@anaphylastiks the G22 is chambered for .40 Smith & Wesson.
@@stevenbobbybills thanks.
Wow! Proper UX Design methodologies and User Testing and iterative development! Colour me impressed!
It's good to see the amount of time they dedicated to the details. That means they're really serious about their goal. Hopefully, the real-life use will prove their efforts worthy...
I can see these being invaluable for institutional use (i.e. maximum-security prisons). Pair the tech up with a propietary cartridge using modernized ThunderZap-style projectiles. Now even if someone steals one, jailbreaks it, they won't be able to get ammo for it.
@@scowler7200 I've always been skeptical about electronics in heavy-duty mechanical tools... But THIS specific tool is NOT designed to be a heavy-duty tool. It's designed to handle ONE specific situation, and if they make it resilient enough for THAT situation, I'm fine with it. Headstand gun, always connected to the charger, always charged, never shot (unless you shoot a couple rounds to keep yourself up with it), and always ready for that event we hope never happens. I'm probably sold...
@@josesardinas7660 Maybe they could go a step further and design a smart holster. Maximum retention.
@@scowler7200you mean as in a holster with a built in battery?
I really think a light would be a necessity in a home defense environment. Target identification is a must.
Funniest shit ever is this “smart gun” isn’t even allowed to be sold in California
Uh, forgive my ignorance, but why not?
@@briancaster2876 California mandated micro stamping on all new handguns in 2013 so it’s basically a back door ban on new handgun designs. Anyways the handgun roster currently got multiple preliminary injunctions on it so it’ll be struck down eventually but still funny
@@briancaster2876 Pistol Roster. It doesn't adhere to an arbitrary list of required features and doesn't have room to even get added on because the list needs to constantly shrink to make less and less "Safe and approved" kinds of pistols available for purchase for civilians. Also that list of required features has microstamping, which doesn't exist in full-scope manufacturing. Totally not a 2A infringement bro.
Slap an apple logo on it with 5g integration and everyone would have one there.
@@briancaster2876 I'm curious as well. Not that it's even gone to market yet.
This is actually an interesting case of product research
It would have been nice if you could have done a deep dive into why the gun had two failures to fire right off the bat in your last video, and what specifically is going to be done to ensure that the problem gets fixed between now and when the gun is ready for sale.
@@BiofireUSA I'd love to review 1 but I am not a content creator/KZheadr. Maybe I'll hook up with someone who makes youtube videos.
How is the ATF going to feel about the electronic trigger? I remember thinking about that from the first video...the ATF are going to claim an electronic trigger can be abused to make this pistol full-auto. 😮
That's the only version I'd buy.
@@khaaaaaaaaaannn Yeppers, me too. 😈
I simply like the cyberpunk asthetics of the pistol.
Wish I was able to be apart of that survey. I am still apart of the community that wants to take my protection into my own hands but have yet to purchase a firearm.
Just purchase a regular handgun and a quick access safe. You’ll have a better, more reliable firearm, way cheaper and just as quick to access as this weird station thing
Guns like these are used to further restrict our rights. Just buy non smart guns and weapons and get trained and in general prepared.
@@bradenmchenry995 I take it you don't watch much Lock Picking Lawyer
@@BiofireUSA I'd love to share any insights I could contribute, how should I reach out to you guys? I don't know where to DM you.
Unsolicited advice: Here’s how I went about deciding on my first gun. Needs -> Budget -> Platform -> Action -> Caliber -> Model -> Accessories Home environment + Most likely threat = Platform Rural area + large predators = Rifle Rural area + small pests = .22 handgun Suburbs + petty criminals = handgun Urban area + gangs = AR15
Ian looks skeptical, but cautiously optimistic.
Wonder how the camera does with face ID in the dark. Is there an IR illuminator or something to help?
When are you going to add the feature that shocks unauthorized users? 😁
This is going to be a requirement for handgun rosters now 🤬
About color 13:00 as someone who is red/green colorblind, which is the most common type, I wouldn't advocate for any particular color combination - I'd just go with lit up or not. Or solid vs blinking. A lot of people really, really can't tell the difference between green and red, and then as the designer mentioned, those colors have different meanings to different people for all kinds of reasons. But everyone who can see can see lit up or not, blinking or not. A front sight that is meant to be illuminated but is instead blinking would immediately tell the user that something is wrong. The one piece of information I need when holding a firearm is "Will this go bang if I pull the trigger?" Everything else is secondary. So the laser on authentication is halfway there, but I really don't want a laser on a pistol meant for self defense.
Seems like the best idea since firing your double barrel in the air...
With the double barrel the correct strategy is to fire a warning shot in the air when the threat is 10 feet away and to fire a second warning shot over their shoulder when they are 5 feet away... then be as bad ass as dirty Harry and ask them how lucky they feel.
@@jay2ssrstt "did I fire one shot or did I fire two" "uhh two." "Oh yeah crap"
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz that's too many barrels, nobody needs that many barrels! 😂
@@beargillium2369 Because one ain't enough, and two is too low
This will go the way of the Dodo bird and the Hudson H9.
Intrigued by the technology and innovation? Yes. Concerned that politicians will use this to create further anti-2a laws? Also yes. Any potential legislation that mandates the use of this technology needs to be opposed by Biofire. That would certainly assuage my concerns quite a bit.
They've already made it pretty clear they won't sell to states like NJ with laws mandating "once smart guns are on the market, all guns must be smart guns", thus they AREN'T on the NJ market
@@1lovesoni That's good to hear.
@@1lovesoni people lie too
Can we start a petition for a voice activated ammunition selector? It doesnt have to actually change the ammo type, but it would be cool to fire a couple of rounds at an intruder, then duck into cover and say "grenade" and your gun loudly repeats it back in a robotic voice. I guarantee theyd be gone when you stepped back out of cover 😏
Judge Dredd? So cool.
@@Redmenace96 I would really like to have that ability with my defense handgun! "Grenade" "Double Whammy"
I want it to bark "I am, Da Law!" in Stalone's voice.
Attach a bayonet to it in case the fingerprint and face recognition don't work
My thoughts exactly
Fun fact: there is no reason whatsoever NOT to have a bayonet on your gun, regardless of what gun it is
they should ask the Lockpicking Lawyer to look at this if it takes more then 30seconeds or needs special tools then it gets a gold star
@@BiofireUSA I would love to see that video. Should be easy if you don't have an actual mechanical lock to pick.The real question is how long does disassembly take, and if it's quick to somehow bypass or defeat the internal safeties with the gun disassembled.
The dual authentication is interesting as one of the most annoying things about working with your hands a lot is having to reset your phone's fingerprint sensor every week. Not to mention dust, grease, 5 minuets with some sand paper, even water can mess with a finger print sensor. It seems that BioFire has done a lot of research and development to make the best "smart pistol" they can however much like my smart bed that is very innovative and comfortable and has a responsive feature to adjust the bed for maximum comfort when I roll over on my side there are many times when it has: not adjusted properly, not responded to commands, inflated to maximum hardness at 3:30 in the morning for no reason at all. To me a gun is a tool not a smart phone. When I need my torque wrench it just works, when I need my chain saw it just works, when I need my rifle it just works. Yes the concept is neat but we added touch screens to cars because they were neat and now we can't get out of our Tesla because it bricked its self on the side of the highway and every function is electronic.
You're comparing it to a weapon alone tho, imagine having kids or something where you don't particularly want someone else being able to use it. Like being better than trigger lock or small safe for the nominal 2am oh shit moment isn't hard.
@@hannahranga I don't know if I could ever trust an electronic lock but I do remember as a kid going hunting with my dad and having eyes on experience with what a gun can do really instilled a reverence in me that guns are not something to be played with. As for a toddler age kid I'd have to come up with some sort of a cabinet that they couldn't open in place of some locked up safety device.
Looking forward to your next video on this firearm! Great information for a possible future to come.
Love hearing about the potential customer research used on the project.
These guys seem like a modern tech company, developing a product, and no longer artisans, scaling up their craft, based on their own experience (and hence doing it for other 'in the know' artisans/enthusiasts). I think this approach has a lot of potential to bring really NEW stuff out.
until the government says "No more" and flips a switch.
@@hueco5002 either or I guess…
more options is better than less. plenty of barely legal gun owners i wouldnt trust in a firefight may be better protected by this IF it works as advertised
@@EcceHomo1088 You should do more research
@@hueco5002 The supreme court is still knocking down firearms regulations left and right
This is the kind of product that ought to be thrown into the molten vat at the end of Terminator 2.
If we're adding more stuff to a weapon then can I vote for a battery and ammo counter? A flip up red dot on long guns or a laser on handguns would be pretty awesome too. Red would indicate low battery/ammo while blue would represent a healthy number.
I think this is where it’s going. This is going to piss people off, but here I go. The development of pistol cartridges has really peaked. We’ve added rails and optics to every imaginable pistol out there too. Even the 1911 has caught up with modern designs. Electronics will be the next thing. Ammo counters, built in customized red dots, lasers and biometrics. The limiting factor will be battery life, but in the home defense category, that’s really negligible since the altercation will probably last less than a few minutes. Unless you’re a drug dealer. Then you got bigger problems.
@@mbell9995 Yes, keeping the battery charged would be a very minor issue for home defence but I'd still press for a way to turn off the security in the event of a dead battery or electrical fault, it would have to be a secure bypass of course but it is necessary for situations where the battery has died and you've no way to replenish it or where the electronics have failed and you need to use it before you can get it repaired.
@@mbell9995 Cartidges are still developable further but admittedly not by much with current materials, we have just gotten working polymer cased ammunition (one of the NGSW bids demonstrated it satisfactorily but was paired with the gun that didn't win) and now there's some potential for near caseless too (casehead and primer only, the propellant and round bonded together ahead of it)
@@b-beale1931 I have not seen the numbers for polymer ammunition, I have barely even seen the ammunition itself, how much better is it than what we have now? I think that the performance increase will have to really trounce traditional rounds in order to outweigh the benefits of being able to recycle the spent bullets and casing to make new rounds cheaply and easily at home. If the improvement is not enough to overcome that then I feel that polymer ammo will be relegated to military and rich people use.
@@Voltaic_Fire military arms channel did a video on polymer cases ammo but it was pretty underwhelming. I think it has potential but the material technology isn't there yet. It's about 25% lighter than a brass cased equivalent, it has the potential to be faster and cheaper to mass produce (though this is limited by the setup cost) and there's apparently benefits for reduced heat in the breach and improved efficiency due to less energy loss from heat but I don't know how much that really works in reality. You also can't reload them, can't use them in a gun with a fluted chamber, the cost is too high for most people and there seemed to be accuracy and reliability issues from it. I think it has real potential but it's at least another 5-10 years away from being viable
I just realized Ian is the Bob Ross of Guns.
That makes more sense than it has any right to.
Another issue i have with this firearm, a lot of people with the fears that this weapon supposedly addresses aren't shooters and have no idea how to hold a weapon. And this weapon relies on people understanding how the weapon works to authenticate them. It the target demographic is the "i'm going to stick this in my nightstand and never practice with it" crowd, then this is actively harmful. This system requires training, and frequent training so that the shooter can actually use the weapon when they need it. Otherwise it's a piece of tech that is going to get people killed. All firearm users/owners should train. But we know they won't. And there's an issue right there.
That problem also applies to the guy who buys a used Glock 17 and sticks it into a $5 lock box, too. Hard agree that many owners need to do more training, but that problem already exists at a massive scale.
>life or death situation >draw gun >it doesn't work because i forgot to charge it >it doesn't work because the firmware crashed >it doesn't work because the sensor is dirty and doesn't recognize me >it doesn't work because some circuit got wet/dirty/grimy In theory it's a nice idea and it could be very reliable in a decade or two but right now i would never trust it.
If you're carrying this gun into the Alaskan wilderness and expect it to get wet, cold, and dirty, you're not the target market. With its integral charging stand, it is positioned as a bedside home defense gun or maybe a law enforcement sidearm IF the agency has firm procedures in place to put the gun back into the charger @ end of shift or whatever.
@@vmpgsc this sounds as ridiculous as the "glocks are made of porcelain" BS from die hard 2. let me see if i understand this correctly. this gun only works reliably if: the sensors are free of any dirt, fluids or particles that can interfere with detection. the shooter isn't wearing any kind of gloves, a band aid on his finger or has a tiny cut on the tip. hats, shades, glasses(?) maybe even a full beard(?), low light conditions? can interfere with detection. its battery is charged(people forget to charge their phones all the time btw), which is every couple of days? hours? so it's, as far as i understand, made for a situation at home, in daylight or other well lit environments, where the shooters face is clearly visible and unobstructed, the hands are free of anything at all(fluids, dust, dirt) and it, more or less, was just disconnected from the charger. also no idea if the firmware on that chip ever has to be updated(bluetooth? wifi?), which hopefully never happens when you actually need it. i would love to hear what all the "don't trust automatics because they jam all the time, only carry wheel guns"-crowd has to say about this gun. they'd probably have a stroke.
@@vmpgsc this would be great for law enforcement
But what if the burglar replaces my grip on the gun so tightly, the proximity sensor doesn't notice a meaningful change?
You can never tell how old a vid is by just looking at Gun Jesus. I don't think he aging 😆
I would love this concept if not for the fact that I'm sure someone will find a way to disabled other people's guns.
I love the visual similarity to the Unity pistol from Cyberpunk 2077
Creating tool cavities for the other parts is how we (Flux) design things as well, and how the Raider was designed.
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz I have an APX for that reason, not sure when or even if it will come to fruition though. This is one of my favorite channels, it's very entertaining education. "Firearm Development by Professor Ian McCullom" - My favorite class!
I have a question, is the battery in the gun due to the boot up time of the software in the gun? was thinking it might make some sense to have a battery in the mag so you dont have to return the gun to the dock to charge.
Digging the iron man inspired diagrams in the background
It'd be nice if they had an in-built flashlight option as well as a laser, I can see that being far more important for a gun aimed at home self defense. Also as someone studying UX design, this is exactly the kind of stuff i want to do, big props for properly innovating.
Thats tru, and from a user perspective, just as good a ready indicator. Laser light combo and configuration options would be amazing, but how much space, weight, cost considerations idk
As someone who has a combination light / green laser on my night stand gun, I was actually blown away how much secondhand light a green laser by itself produces in a dark room. The weapon light is certainly not needed for TA in close quarters. Of course, there is quite a deterrent effect with an obnoxious white light being pointed at your face, but it's also a 'Shoot Here' beacon for your attacker.
That was a very interesting video Ian. It's nice to hear that yes, there are smart, capable people out there. I'm eager to see the video of you trying it out.
Video of him trying it out, kzhead.info/sun/ZceLnZ16hKqibGg/bejne.html
NOTE!!! URL from QTKT is bogus and dangerous!!! It is not a legitimate KZhead URL, nor is it a Forgotten Weapons URL.
It looks interesting and I'm curious as to how well it will work and how reliable it will be. It needs more people to review the product and put it through its paces. My understanding is that Ian is the only one the company is allowing to review it.
I mean, if you had to pick one reviewer ... it's not a bad start?
@@jamespray I agree. But still, why don't they open it up to others also? I'd bet Matt from Demolition Ranch could really put it through its paces. Well, that may be a little over the top, but you know what I mean.
@@davidfreis2731 It may be slightly early days, if they're not yet ready for outside product testing. If I was only after an interview, I'd take Ian any day of the week. If I was ready for hype and destructive testing, I'd be mad not to work with people like Matt. So yeah, if they don't open it up to more reviewers and testers in the next few months, that would start to feel more sus, certainly, unless they hit issues in the final leg of product development (which isn't exactly rare, of course...).
No light mount….on a self defense firearm…immediate disqualification
Exactly my thoughts. Especially considering the target market is home defense for people that specifically DO NOT live alone.
For its size it should have a light and maybe even a suppressor integrated.
Ian, are you still going to be releasing a breakdown video as part of the pre-release coverage or is that going to have to wait until you have your own to futz with?
Has to wait until I have a production model. We did completely tear one down at Biofire, but I was not able to film it. Once they are available for sale, all NDA considerations are off the table and I can disassemble it and show the inner workings.
@@ForgottenWeapons Thanks for the response and all the content you’re making about this pretty damn fascinating product.
You know what works really well? Teaching your kids that guns aren't toys and they shouldn't be touched by the children, then instructing them in proper firearms handling when they're old enough. It worked really well for me, my siblings, their kids, and millions of other kids since the invention of firearms.
Yeah. Probably my most realistic concern is that the people who will buy this won’t even bother teaching their kids that
this is a prime example of using new technology in our favor instead of inventing useless apps. (dont solve an unexisting problem). congrats to the designers
I am not a fan of "smart guns" as a general concept. What I think would be incredibly useful is if they took their lessons learned from this development effort and produce a training gun that gives feedback for things like grip, draw stroke, trigger press, and so on. I think *that* would be a very good product and I'd buy at least one.
There are, of course, other products that do this but they are all "bolt ons". I think that a fully integrated system as a turnkey training pistol has a lot more potential .
I have a friend, who is a high school teacher in Florida. The only time she's ever fired a gun was while she visited me, and we were recently talking and she mentioned how some neighboring states are pushing through legislature that will pay teachers rather exorbitant stipends to carry a firearm, (she was saying to the tune of $25k a year,) but she wouldn't consider signing up for something like that because of a fear of a gun being stolen and used for criminal intent. Between what I've seen on this channel and from Ryan McBeth I was like, "hey you know what, there is a novel product that hasn't even released yet, that seems relevant to precisely this situation." I think there's a real opportunity market here, if we're having the conversation about arming teachers anyway, for providing firearms that don't even have the mechanical linkage to operate without electronic biometric access.
I mean depends on how the stipend works but I like the image of them carrying a bare lower.
@@hannahranga holy shit I hadn't even thought of that. "legally a gun" is still a gun, right?
I actually would buy this
This would be good for law enforcement to use.
I am still suspicious of the reliability of the weapon. If this is going to be a viable nightstand gun it needs to work 100% of the time. Jams need to be non-existent. Furthermore, the electronics and code need to be on point to the extent that it is verified by the time you can get the gun aimed at thw bad guy.
Ian's earlier video showed this
Yeah, I agree with the idea of multiple redundant authentication systems but fingerprint plus face recognition isn't enough. Wake up at 3AM when a window shatters, grab the pistol off your nightstand in the dark, the fingerprint reader fails because of a cut/dry skin/something spilled on it/whatever and the camera doesn't recognize your face in the dark with long hair over your face and you're laying half on your back in bed. Maybe add a transponder ring like the Armatix watch as a third option?
@@elektro3000 I am disappointed that the fingerprint reader isn't ambidextrous because there is no guarantee that you will be able to access the gun from a specific hand. Also that the feedback is visual rather than tactile. You have to look at the gun to see if it is "on" which means you can't be keeping your eyes downrange.
Battery life is the real issue. Even if the authentication was 100% perfect and took 0 nano seconds to verify, doesn't mean shit if the battery is dead. Every handgun i own will go bang if there is a round in the chamber, and the striker or hammer is cocked. As will every rifle and shotgun.
@@jeromethiel4323 That concerns me too. I know the thing is meant to be plugged in all the time but that isn't realistic. I have my lap top plugged in all the time but sometimes it gets disconnected, sometimes the power strip it is attached to is turned off etc. If the sole use for this gun is home defense then it is likely that the gun is going to just sit in its cradle for a long time and eventually the owners will let their vigilance slip and one day find out that their battery is dead, hopefully in a non life threatening manner.
Curious thought experiment and props to them for going down this road. However, it's not something I'd ever buy into or recommend, but to each their own.
it will never be a good idea to diminish reliability and encourage leaving guns out in the open unsupervised
@@GenX-Grampa As long as it doesn't have any radio in it (and there's nothing to indicate that it does) and the dock isn't connected to the internet, then the govt would be a pretty rough time messing with it.
@@jonp8015 I thought the dock is what gave firmware updates and shit?
Well done development!
The technology is very interesting from the design end of it. You're never going to convince me that this can achieve the same reliability that I have with my current pistols.
I'd really like a flashlight version or maybe just an attachment for the pistol to have a light. Maybe you could have the flashlight mod slide into the USB port
Imagining a future model with a taser in the grip if anyone takes while in combat mode.
Thats gonna cause people to accidentally fire it if the gun doesnt de authenticate or the person in question wont be able to let go of it
@@deathstramy7272 Ok we add a voice command "tase that bitch" 😆
Thank you for the video. I’m amazed the proof of concept prototype is based on sig p320 FCU, does that mean the pistol can be available as an add on to existing sig customers? it would be fantastic if it was.
I can see this becoming standard issue for prison guards, maybe even police
Correctional officers do not carry firearms like the movies want you to believe.
Trying this again, eh? El oh el
very interesting!! Im not going to put up my Series 70 for one.. but it looks very good for newbies and cops
What’s the difference? Lol.
A very interesting video and product indeed GJ.Have a good one.
They dance around the reality that cell phone companies have been doing all the heavy lifting in the biometrics for the last several years. They're the main reason for the reliability increases in both identification systems.
Cell phone companies have the cash to do the heavy lifting. Start-up niche gun companies are just along for the ride. I don't mind, though! Granted: a sentence or two admitting the fact would be nice. But it isn't strictly necessary, methinks.
Fair lmao, but thats hoe innovation should work, the big players get their massive cuts, but then everyone can use them using the tech made by others.
Kinda hope this company has a clause for a museum to collect much if not all of the development material behind this gun. Would truly suck to have it lost to time.
That note of making the indicator light green, for me its odd ass i check for red on the saft switches. But im not the target audience. My non gun savy friends are. And they only know green means go. Or green means ok. Kinda blew me away with that
Really nest I want one... Also what lapel mics do you use??
Rode.
If it's going to just sit in a room until it's needed (like on a nightstand) it may as well be a large format pistol like an AR9 or stribog if not a carbine or a shotgun. That would give it more points of contact since you're not worried about size as it's not a concealed carry weapon. The only time it needs to be this small is if you have it in an office or vehicle, which wouldn't be recommended because someone could steal it so you can't have it even if they can't use it.
Defeats the purpose of it not being able to be used by someone else (IE, child, roommate, etc)
@@cpufreak101 how would changing the format and making it easier for the shooter to control make it easier for a child or roommate to use it if the software and hardware is still the same? Being able to grab it further along the frame, shoulder it, get a cheek weld, space for a light, and have a longer sight radius has nothing to do with the parts that are already on it. If anything, that means more space for those parts.
@@jacobstaten2366 my bad I misread your original comment. I'd imagine this is in a pistol form to be more "inviting" for first time gun owners (as they have said in the video it's built for a target audience that's been well researched). With enough time and market adoption it may eventually make its way into such larger formats
@@cpufreak101 no worries. A 9mm carbine version would probably be better for the target audience anyway for the above reasons, and it would be quieter. Ironically, like you said, it might be harder to convince them to buy that over this.
I hope they are reading these comments. I think this would be interesting in a carbine for home defense.
Whole thing looking like a background scenery cel drawn my Masamune Shirow
since its not a 2fa unlock and it works when 1 of the sensors gives conformation could a printed out picture trick the camera to unlock the gun?
Nope. It uses IR to map a 3d model of the user's face
It's a good question. I think it's unlikely because it's using an IR camera w/ active illumination (like FaceID). Allows it to work in the dark, and provides resistance to a "printed out picture" attack. You might be able to defeat it with a sculpted 3d model of the target's face. But that's a pretty darn sophisticated attack compared to "print out a photo of dad".
As per the specification on the site. It's uses 3D Infrared for facial recognition. A picture would not work.
Thx for the info guys
The troubling thing is that if this technology proves viable, it will be forced upon those of us who do not want or need it. Development of this technology is very distrubing.
I am eager for the reviews of this thing once it finally hits the shelves.
Did anyone notice the 320 grip module in the background?
Can I stipple the grip without hurting the sensors?
hm. I wonder if thermal sensors in the grip panel would have helped to mitigate the problem mentioned with detection of being put down.
This is ideal for prison guards and the like but I personally would never trust my life to something rendered useless by electronic malfunction. I don't have any safety at all on my EDC (p365). When I have children I might want a gun safe with redundant quick biometric locks.
Does anyone know in what video Ian talks about the failure of technology replacing training regarding firearms? Many thanks in advance.
I really don't think this is about technology vs training. The target demographic here, so far, is suburban parents and prison guards. There is no amount of training which is capable of removing the risks and necessary compromises inherent to those situations. This sort of device has to potential to significantly mitigate those in a way that training simply cannot. You cannot train toddlers at all, and you cannot train yourself to open a safe as fast as not opening one. Probably should gtf down off your smug high horse.
I like that some people claim that Ian is a paid-shill for Biofire. I trust that Ian is only doing a series on the Biofire because he finds it interesting, and would tell us if they had paid him. Ian has integrity.
Who wouldnt meet with the firearms designers about a new gun? Taking advantage of his channel for more firearms information
@deathstramy7272 yeah it's a mutually beneficial relationship, Ian gets content and the company gets some exposure. The most I think Ian would take is a place to sleep and maybe some food.
@@RaDeus87 I know you’re comment is pretty early from release, but looking at the comments I don’t think this is the exposure they wanted lol
Thank s for your videos.
I keep looking at their logo and thinking it's the Nintendo Gamecube.
I give Ian a lot of credit for giving us this window into this tech and company. A lot of people want nothing to do with this stuff, but I think it's interesting, and may have applications in the future in more compact form. It's also possible to increase redundancies further with voice recognition and better implementations of RFID tech tried previously, eliminating any real risk of not being verified in any given situation. I also said before, with the bulk it can add, I'd love to see them try this on a 5.7 platform, given the thinner grip and overall width inherent to the 5.7.
You got to think about the demographic. They don't want 5.7
@@5Minuteman they should, with less recoil, given it's likely somewhat female in its demographics. But I get what you mean.
Politicians everywhere want this gun to succeed so they can mandate that all new guns be “smart.” I would never buy one of these.
Politicians are also mandating that guns be banned, and are doing a pretty good job of it.
The company has made it very clear they will refuse to sell to any state with laws mandating "all guns must be smart guns".
@@1lovesoni Marketing says a lot of things.
Interesting stuff. I like that they approached the whole thing from the standpoint of the concerns of potential consumers rather than hobbyists. I know there's a lot of controversy but it has the potential to make more people comfortable with owning a gun.
"Gun owner" take a shot game anyone
Definitely a soon to be forgotten weapon.
Precisely. Perfect platform for this piece of history. It is so bad they won’t even let anyone test it or or gets trigger time.
The sooner the better.
Someone never played MGS4
@@OttoTheWeim Ian already had hands on with the weapon. But watching videos is hard I guess
I wish the forgotten weapons community acted more like Ian instead of like Fudds.
Not my kinda gun but I'd definitely want to try it.
@@BiofireUSA oh sick, I'll check that out
Here's his previous HANDS ON video with an earlier prototype of this weapon including it's setup, info on multiple users, and live fire testing at a range. kzhead.info/sun/ZceLnZ16hKqibGg/bejne.html
I hope this becomes a forgotten weapon...
I still don’t understand how the requirements of: 1. Home defense 2. Inexperienced shooters 3. Need to fit a ton of biometric electronics somehow resulted in a handgun and not a carbine.
SBR nonsense?
That's the problem when you ask inexperienced shooters what they want. It's like asking a fish how to catch fish instead of asking the fisherman
@@gunfumaster1024 This is 100% a flaw with their product research and design process. When I got into guns I had no idea what I actually wanted in a carry or home defense gun until I had a good bit of experience under my belt. Some things I thought I wanted turned out to suck, and other things didn't matter as much as I thought they did.
Try fitting a carbine in a drawer
@@gunfumaster1024 I promise, I absolutely promise, a predatory fish is a better fisherman than anyone who has ever operated a rod and line, and if you're talking trawling, thats just cheating and it super doesn't count🤣
Thousand round eval, including an Arizona mud test. Does it work if you're wearing gloves and the optical scanner if frosted over due to cold or has rain on it? A personal safety firearm that doesn't work is a problem not a solution, and until it's actually tested it doesn't work. Lack of illuminator makes me wonder about how much of a home defense firearm this really is. And as someone for whom multi day power outages are a thing, how long does the battery last? Is it it a brick with a dead battery, or do you just have to outwait it?
Someone's gonna run doom on it