Stopping Cars With Microwave Radiation 522
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the stops-in-under-a-minute dept.
from the stops-in-under-a-minute dept.
Ponca City, We Love You writes "Researchers have created an electromagnetic system that can quickly bring a vehicle to a stop by sending out pulses of microwave radiation to disable the microprocessors that control the central engine functions in a car. A 200-pound unit attached to the roof of a police car can be used to stop fleeing and noncooperative vehicles. The average power emitted in a single shot is about 10 kilowatts at 100 hertz and since each radiated pulse lasts about 50 nanoseconds, the total energy output is 100 joules at a distance of 15 meters. One concern with the device is that it could cause an accident if a car is disabled and a driver loses steering control. The device could also disable other vehicles in the area so the most practical application may be for perimeter protection at remote areas. Criminals have a work-around too. Since electronic control modules were not built into most cars until 1972, the system will not work on automobiles made before that year."
What happens when... (Score:5, Funny)
Grandma was found dead at the scene (Score:5, Funny)
Coming home from our house Christmas eve.
Cops say microwaves can be used safely,
But as for me and Grandpa, we disbelieve.
Tinfoil (Score:5, Funny)
Organic shield (Score:5, Funny)
Big deal...was done in the 80's (Score:5, Funny)
Nice Gadget, but What I really want (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What happens when... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nice Gadget, but What I really want (Score:4, Funny)
"All Your Bass Are Belong to Us"
Re:Faraday cage (Score:3, Funny)
microwaves are a Hazzard (Score:5, Funny)
At least the Duke boys will be safe in that '69 Charger...
Yeah, well... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What happens when... (Score:3, Funny)
It turns into an old fashioned foot race when the '67 Camaro they're driving as a workaround runs out of gas 30 seconds later.
Faraday Cages (Score:5, Funny)
Faraday Cage: Your CPU's tinfoil hat. Never leave home without it!
Re:Won't stop my 1980s car (Score:5, Funny)
'67 AMC Rebel (Score:5, Funny)
Also, because the average car thief wouldn't even be able to *start* my car, much less actually drive away in it. It's hard to evade cops when the slightest mistake while sitting at a red light or going through a toll booth causes the engine to die.
Oh, and did I mention that to restart the car while moving, you have to put the transmission halfway in between Reverse and Neutral, turn the key, then quickly shift back over into Drive in case the magical transmission gnome decides that you were closer to Reverse than Neutral?
Re:Won't stop my 1980s car (Score:5, Funny)
That's why this microwave transmitter has a dial with the following settings:
Microprocessor Disruption (default)
Sparky Metal
Mortal Kombat Raiden
That last setting is the most noticeable. I preferred the old microwave emitter, which referred specifically to your driver:
Light
Medium
Dark
Solomon
Re:Won't stop my 1980s car (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Faraday cage (Score:1, Funny)
Forget "criminals" (Score:5, Funny)
Cop: "HAHA I'M ON UR HIGHWAYZ CLOCKIN UR CARZ!!1 OMG FIVE MILES OVAR!!!"
Me: "lol noob" *MICROWAVE-PWN*
Cop: D: WTF WALLHAX
Re:What happens when... (Score:2, Funny)
We already do, from said cyclists pounding their prostate against that bike seat.
Better Idea - Car Taser or CARPOON (Score:3, Funny)
Or even better yet - a CARPOON! Fire a barbed tipped harpoon at the car, and just hit the brakes. It would make for much better TV watching. Spearing the fugitive driver in the head (oops- darn) from an errant shot would be a minor detail that would need to be worked out.
Re:What happens when... (Score:2, Funny)
In those 'robotic' competitions they hold, a smart team should come up with a design for a robot that is pneumatic-powered from a very simple controller design driven by a large shielded bipolor transistor design.
The only 'weapon' said 'bot would need to have is an emp bomb.
It would be funny as hell. The Television broadcast of the 'competition' starts:
"The Luddite Team is rolling out their new competitor."
"Look! It appears to be very simple. It rolls awkwardly. These guys are gonna get creamed!"
********sudden hiss of static as every electronic device near the 'arena' is destroyed and television broadcast goes off the air***********
The cool thing about this kind of tech is it basically knocks all the 'gadget freak' dweebs outta orbit. The bad thing is that I don't have a replacement metal shield case (yet) for my Palm III...
Re:Wrong (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Better Idea - Car Taser or CARPOON (Score:3, Funny)
Somebody get this man some VC funding, STAT! Tell me you wouldn't want to see this on an episode of COPS.