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Stopping Cars With Microwave Radiation

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."

24 of 522 comments (clear)

  1. What happens when... by cuteseal · · Score: 5, Funny

    What happens when criminals get their hands on this and start disabling police cars as well? :D

    1. Re:What happens when... by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      screw that! A gun that disables microprocessors?! I'm worried about more than stupid cop cars. In midflight, there goes planes, spaceships, satellites, and missiles... Remind me in case of nuclear war to drive 100mph down the interstate for the sake of the world.

    2. Re:What happens when... by Joebert · · Score: 2, Funny

      What happens when criminals get their hands on this and start disabling police cars as well? :D

      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.
      --
      Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
    3. Re:What happens when... by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 2, Funny

      will we end up with a lot eunuch cyclists.

      We already do, from said cyclists pounding their prostate against that bike seat.

    4. Re:What happens when... by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 2, Funny

      This point brings up a novel idea that I have had for awhile.

      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...

  2. Grandma was found dead at the scene by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Grandma was pulled over by the sheriff
    Coming home from our house Christmas eve.
    Cops say microwaves can be used safely,
    But as for me and Grandpa, we disbelieve.

  3. Tinfoil by megaditto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not just for hats anymore.

    --
    Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.
  4. Organic shield by GaryOlson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Shield the microprocessor with some left-over casserole. Microwaves never fully penetrate the the center of that mass.

    --
    Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
  5. Big deal...was done in the 80's by PortHaven · · Score: 4, Funny

    Knight Industries K.I.T.T. 2000 was able to do just this. ;)

  6. Nice Gadget, but What I really want by slntnsnty · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is a device that causes those obnoxious Bass units that shake every car for 3 blocks to implode. Now that would be a useful gadget.

    1. Re:Nice Gadget, but What I really want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Such a device would inevitably be named
      "All Your Bass Are Belong to Us"

  7. Re:Faraday cage by MicktheMech · · Score: 2, Funny

    What you really need is a flux capacitor. As an added bonus it will limit any high speed pursuits to a maximum of 88mph!

  8. microwaves are a Hazzard by ChristTrekker · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least the Duke boys will be safe in that '69 Charger...

  9. Yeah, well... by darjen · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hear tractor beams are much more effective at stopping large mobile objects.

  10. Faraday Cages by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

    Which also makes me wonder why, if someone were intent on illegality, they couldn't put their own little faraday cage...

    Faraday Cage: Your CPU's tinfoil hat. Never leave home without it!

  11. Re:Won't stop my 1980s car by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

    HAH! I use a manual bycicle! Try EMP'ing that!

  12. '67 AMC Rebel by Arathon · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is why I love my car.

    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?

  13. Re:Won't stop my 1980s car by Skevin · · Score: 4, Funny

    > No electronics to kill.

    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 ...but some police departments interpreted it to refer to the ethnicity of the offending driver, as opposed to how crispy you wanted them to be.

    Solomon

    --
    "Twice half-assed makes an ass whole." --Solomon K. Chang
  14. Re:Won't stop my 1980s car by jamstar7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    We'll do you a favor & kill your 8-track, too.

    --
    Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step on the path to true panic.
  15. Re:Faraday cage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't microwave me, bro'!

  16. Forget "criminals" by StarKruzr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just want to be able to take out the cop car who chases me down at speed traps.

    Cop: "HAHA I'M ON UR HIGHWAYZ CLOCKIN UR CARZ!!1 OMG FIVE MILES OVAR!!!"
    Me: "lol noob" *MICROWAVE-PWN*
    Cop: D: WTF WALLHAX

    --

    +++ATH0
  17. Better Idea - Car Taser or CARPOON by spineboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just have the police car fire a car taser sticky pad at the target vehicle. That would cut down on the chance of hitting innocent bystanders pacemakers with the death ray.
    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.

    --
    ..........FULL STOP.
    1. Re:Better Idea - Car Taser or CARPOON by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or even better yet - a CARPOON!

      Somebody get this man some VC funding, STAT! Tell me you wouldn't want to see this on an episode of COPS.

      --
      Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
  18. Re:Wrong by falsified · · Score: 2, Funny

    THIS is what makes you miss your '65 Mustang?

    --
    HI, MY NAME IS ISAAC.