The ANPD-1 Impulse is the PDW variant of Tessera's neural firing concept, developed by Arcturus under a disputed technology-sharing agreement. Like the TNAS-1 Puppeteer, the Impulse fires exclusively through BCI neural command with no physical trigger. Unlike the Puppeteer, the Impulse is designed for instinctive close-quarters reaction rather than deliberate engagement.

The weapon's neural interpretation engine is calibrated for threat-response speed rather than accuracy — it fires when the operator's brain enters a threat-response state, with the targeting system directing rounds at whatever the operator's attention is focused on. The 4.6mm caseless rounds fire at 1,000 rpm in controlled bursts determined by the AI's assessment of the threat level. A minor threat receives a 3-round burst. A major threat receives the full magazine.

Arcturus markets the Impulse as the ultimate reactive defense weapon: it fires before the operator consciously decides to fire, leveraging the pre-conscious threat detection that the human brain performs faster than conscious thought. The ethical implications are staggering, and Arcturus' legal department maintains a dedicated team for Impulse-related liability cases.