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How The Latest in High Tech Works

Posted by Zonk on from the all-done-with-mirrors dept.

Popular Science has up a feature looking at "how it works", examining the innards of several new technology-based innovations. We've talked about the Sayaka endoscope in a pill, but did you know it captures images in 360 degrees? We've discussed the adorable little Pleo dino-bot, but did you know how adaptive it is to stimuli? And what about the tank-burning laser that can be fired from an airplane? Well, we haven't discussed that but I'm at a loss as to explain why. "A kind of reverse telescope called the beam expander inside a retractable, swiveling pod called the turret widens the beam to 20 inches and aims it. The laser's computer determines the distance to the target and adjusts the beam so it condenses into a focused point at just the right spot. Tracking computers help make microscopic adjustments to compensate for both the airplane's and the target's movement. A burst of a few seconds' duration will burn a several-inch-wide hole in whatever it hits."

17 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Anti-personnel weapon by Chrisq · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The laser would make a great assassination weapon. Though I find the idea of assassinating enemy leaders remotely somewhat distasteful it would be better if they could just take them out, and not them together with their family and next-door neighbours as seems to happen sometimes with the drone missiles.

    1. Re:Anti-personnel weapon by hitmark · · Score: 3, Informative

      hmm, a few seconds sounds like a nasty long time if you want to assassinate someone...

      --
      comment first, facts later. http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm
  2. I know of... by interactive_civilian · · Score: 4, Funny

    I know of a worthwhile house to target, if someone can come up with enough popcorn.

    --
    "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  3. Re:Lasers in war? by arachnoprobe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Laser to blind people or have other longtime effects (except death, "normal injury" comparable to bullets) on enemy soldiers are outlawed. http://www.potomacinstitute.org/publications/waypoint/Laser%20Waypoint%20Issue.pdf

  4. Re:Lasers in war? by Sterrance · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Thank god, cause I'd much rather be dead than blind.

  5. Airborne Laser Cannon by timotten · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man, if I had some popcorn for everytime some nutty defense department flunky suggested an airborne laser cannon, I would... have a whole lot of popcorn. I mean, a lot. I couldn't even fit it all in my house. It would be a lot.

    1. Re:Airborne Laser Cannon by interactive_civilian · · Score: 3, Funny

      I bet you don't even like popcorn. In fact, I'd go so far as to say you hate it, don't you?

      --
      "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
    2. Re:Airborne Laser Cannon by marquis111 · · Score: 3, Funny

      So...it's both immoral AND unethical, right?

    3. Re:Airborne Laser Cannon by interactive_civilian · · Score: 3, Funny
      In fact, I would say that it is a moral imperative.

      .

      .

      *sigh* I've watched that movie way too many times, I think.

      --
      "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  6. Re:Lasers in war? by IRGlover · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But if you are burning holes in vehicles there is the possiblity that you end up maiming someone inside when the beam penetrates. I think that a few issues are being side-stepped here!

  7. Not previously talked about? by hazzey · · Score: 2, Informative
    And what about the tank-burning laser that can be fired from an airplane? Well, we haven't discussed that but I'm at a loss as to explain why.

    How about actually searching for something as simple as "laser"? This previous article appears on the first page:
    http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/12/13/0315230

  8. this won't work... by pointbeing · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...where are you gonna find a shark big enough to carry the thing?

    --
    we see things not as as they are, but as we are.
    -- anais nin
  9. Re:That's cool and all.... by mikael · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's mounted on an airplane, so we could paint a shark onto the side of the airplane if you like. Otherwise, we are all out of sharks at the moment.

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  10. Re:Source Article by gardyloo · · Score: 2, Informative

    Nice. I didn't believe the link should be considered a "troll" (love the asshole mods on here), but in this case, it really is. Link contains a trojan. Don't go clicky-clicky.

  11. Traumatic experiences by Gwyn_232 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pleo, from California start-up Ugobe, is a baby dinosaur robot that acts and learns like a real animal, remembering traumatic experiences and friendly owners. We peeled off its skin Gee, I wonder which category it uses to remember the PopSci editors?
  12. Re:Stop beating around the Bush! by Archades54 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Instead, hit him straight on the head.
    Why? Nothing there.
    --
    If your neighbours roof is flying past your window, you know it's cyclone season.
  13. $5.99 defense against airborne lasers by He+Who+Waits · · Score: 2, Interesting
    It's easy for ground troops to defend their tanks against airborne laser cannons.

    Just shining a laser pointer at the pilot is apparently enough to cause the plane to crash.