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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."

14 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

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

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

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

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

  9. 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!

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

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

  11. '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?

  12. 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
  13. 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