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Pentagon Wants Kill Switch For Planes
mytrip writes "The Pentagon's non-lethal weapons division is looking for technologies that could 'disable' aircraft, before they can take off from a runway — or block the planes from flying over a given city or stretch of land. The Directorate's program managers don't mention how engineers might pull off such a kill switch. But, however it's done, they'd like to have a similar system for boats, as well. They're looking for a device that can, from 100 meters away, 'safely stop or significantly impede the movement' of vessels up to 40 feet long, with 'minimal collateral damage.'"
There was discussion on Slashdot about the Soft Walls Project that did something similar. See the 1/04 and 7/03 discussions.
What I find interesting is just how vehement software engineers and pilots are about the idea, and yet everyone seems to trust fly-by-wire.
There is Soft Walls FAQ that covers common objections.
A "kill switch" as of now means an F-18A intercepting it and shooting it down.
The term "kill switch" was a journalistic flair added by Wired, and doesn't actually occur anywhere in the Request for Proposals.
You misunderstand. They aren't looking for some sort of kill switch to be built into the aircraft, despite the reporter's use of that phrase. They want a "nonlethal" weapon to use against aircraft.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Trying to make a way for a plane to not be able to go somewhere is a really convoluted way to go about this. If someone has taken over a plane, you don't want them to have control, period. As far as planes go, implement a system whereby either the pilot, or a satellite link may force the plane into an autopilot mode that may not be overridden. The plane will then fly to some predestined area, or be commanded to land somewhere else by someone sitting in a control tower if need be. Plane gets there, and asks where to land. If no answer is received it lands on a predetermined runway. Have a friendly, neighborhood SWAT team waiting at the airfield. You could even set up the plane to be controlled by an external pilot.
The systems already exist. The military already uses them. Autopilot systems are very capable of landing planes these days when needed. It's just a matter putting all the crap together to make an even bigger pile of crap so to speak.
Of course, this being slashdot, I'm an idiot and have no clue what I'm talking about. Feel free to post goatse links and pron stories in response.
Once sealed from inside the flight deck, no master key will open that door from the outside.
To get in, they'd need enough explosives that they might as well bring the plain down with them.
If the door opens inward, it cannot be opened during flight due to the pressure difference between the in- and outside of the craft.
Leela: "Is all the work done by children?" Alien: "No, not the whipping."
Actually, yes. It is just that the bomb wasn't ready before Germany surrendered. Defeating Germany earlier would have prevented the Soviets getting there (not to mention saving allied troops lives by shortening the war), so even with the knowledge of potential fallout (not as well known then as now of course) he or Roosevelt would have done it.
Not correct. The jeep they used was filled with propane canisters, petrol and nails. The Ammonium Nitrate acts as an oxidiser, and these guys didn't have it. Propane canisters are designed to not explode. The Glasgow terrorists clearly thought that if they just lit a fire under one of them it would explode (playing too much GTA methinks). They didn't even attempt to make proper explosive with an oxidiser.
The Omagh bomb was made from fertilizer and that did plenty of damage.
No sig today...
You must be from the UK. That was the IRAs favourite bomb making mixture for a long time. Typically it was a transit van filled with oil drums containing a mixture of diesel and fertilizer (about half a dozen drums normally). I saw a video of such a truck going exploding once - I wouldn't like to be near that!
I used to have a better sig but it broke.
Early estimates of 250,000 deaths at Dresdan are now believed to be far too high, and current estimates are 25,000 - 40,000.
Hiroshima was about 70,000 immediately and 90,000 - 140,000 from radiation etc by the end of the year.
Nagasaki was about 40,000 to 75,000 immediately and up to 80,000 by the end of the year.
So, the Atomic bombings were worse.
What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
Actually it's not so easy any more. You try being a middle eastern man or woman and buying 5,000 lbs of fertilizer. For that matter, try being a white anglo-saxon and buying that much fertilizer and not be a farmer known to your local ag dealer.