Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Army to Test Laser Based Mine Clearing Device

Posted by michael on from the we'd-never-blow-stuff-up-with-light dept.

QueueEhGuy writes "Yahoo News is running a Reuters story indicating that the United States will soon be testing a laser which "will either explode or evaporate the explosives in the device which can be up to 250 yards away.." It's about time, I was starting to think that we'd never blow stuff up with light." New Scientist has another story, complete with nifty graphic. The Zeus homepage has a few pictures and specs.

9 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. imagination by DarkHelmet · · Score: 4, Funny
    Why do I imagine some bad guy dressed like Mike Myers going:

    Fire the "Laser"

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
  2. I want one of these cars... by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... I keep having problems with people tailgating me.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  3. What kinda sound does it make? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Does it make a cool 'bzzzzzt!' noise, or is it more of a 'Skreeee!' like a TIE fighter?

  4. Re:dumb question by TheBahxMan · · Score: 1, Funny

    methane and hot air from Bush & Cheney.

  5. Re:dumb question by BabyDave · · Score: 2, Funny
    You can't plug a humvee in on the battlefield?
    Typical bureaucracy - they'll spend millions of dollars on a cool laser to blow the mines up, but they're too cheap to fork out for the travel adaptor so they can plug it in :-)
  6. Here kittie kittie by ZaneMcAuley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Muhahahah here chase this laser pointer muuuhahahaha..

    Weeiioow...

    --
    ----- Whats wrong with this picture? http://www.revoh.org:1234/whatswrong
  7. Of COURSE we'll blow things up with light by empesey · · Score: 3, Funny

    It was foretold in that great annals of earth's (future) history: Plan 9 From Outer Space.

    Word is, it's more accurate than Nostradamus' works.

  8. Re:americans finally see the light by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If you as a canadian are going to take the high road in this matter you should be criticizing your own country for not making innovations in land mine removal technology. Instead you're sitting there and smugly taking a swipe at the US.

    I agree with your statment (I'm Canadian, BTW) We have, however, made some innovations in land mine removal technology. Unfortunately, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to force Quebecors to run bare-foot through a minefield....they are crafty SOB's.

    (Just kidding....sort of)

  9. Re:Not for de-mining during peacetime by Sabalon · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've heard of another technique where they genetically engineer a local weed so that it glows in the dark (or something) in the presence of certain fumes given off by mines. Seed the field with these modified plants, wait a season (so it's obviously not practical for military use), then look for the glowing bits...

    Or...just look for the explosions caused when planting the seed :)