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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."
Seams a lot more useful in a war zone. At a roadblock in Iraq i think people would appreciate their engine getting shut off a little more the getting shot at.
It could even be set up on a speed trap so that if you enter a road block at a certain speed it would shut off the car automatically.
I guess once again the problem may lie in the fact that most cars in Iraq and other hot spots may not have the Electronic components needed for this. But hey if it stops something like http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4323209.stm then i think its worth it?
-EL
No. Aeroplanes use entirely shielded electronics gear. Missiles (especially the nuclear type) are likely to be used in an environment with a high probability of an EMP burst and are built to withstand it (which is why "mil spec" usually equates to badass). Satellites? They contend with a helluvalot more than 100J of energy on a daily basis.
Which also makes me wonder why, if someone were intent on illegality, they couldn't put their own little faraday cage around the car's ECU. A little box made of copper with a drain wire to the car frame too hard to implement?
I keep trying to pick fights, but I can't shake this Excellent karma.
So if they are zapping someone and hit another car are they responsible if that car crashes? Will this affect on board safety equipment as well? ABS? Airbags? There is a lot of reliance on microprocessors in many new cars.
It would not be long after entering service before they hit the wrong car and the question becomes, how will the courts treat that?
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