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Tagging Devices To Aid In Car Chases
kthejoker writes "ABC News is reporting that a company called StarChase has invented a device that will allow police teams to 'tag' cars involved in dangerous chases. The device is the size of a golf ball, can be launched via an air-powered shooter attached to police vehicles, and uses a "highly efficient" glue to stick to cars. From there, it transmits its GPS position to a central monitoring station."
Okay, I think you have the wrong idea about how cars actually work. Vacuum assist is via manifold pressure - you have about 4 more "pumps" of the pedal before it all goes and if you leave the car in gear, you still have some manifold pressure. In an emergency braking situation, you should be down-shifting and braking at the same time, it eliminates the inertia of the drivetrain (if you really want to get into it, look into pascall's theory). Power Steering is a belt driven hydraulic pump, it will still work if you move your engine into a lower gear when it cuts out although it is far less effective. As for engine cut out, I had a holden genini in full race trim, if you have ever experienced points bounce, you'd know how uncontrollable a car can become when you miss with 12.5:1 compression. As for Automatic transmissions, most are electrically powered hydraulic, I know the EL falcons didn't like high tension power lines, they would downshift on the freeway and get confused from the RFI. I am a qualifed engine rebuilder, Mechanic and Panelbeater studying Mechanical Engineering. I know what I am talking about. That's not to say you don't, I just make it a policy to never assume that others have overlooked something so simple as this.