Slashdot Mirror
Boeing Patents Star Wars Style Force Field Technology
An anonymous reader was one of many to point out that Boeing doesn't want to rely on a sad devotion to an ancient religion to protect aircraft and conjure up the stolen data tapes, but plans on using force fields instead. "Boeing's new patent may let the force be with you even in real life. The aircraft and defense company has taken a cue from science fiction with its plan to develop a Star Wars style force field that would use energy to deflect any potential damage. Just liking the luminescent shields seen in the film, Boeing's "Method and system for shock wave attenuation via electromagnetic arc" could provide a real-life layer of protection from nearby impacts to targets. The downside: It won't protect from direct hits."
So really more like deflector shields.
Shouldn't they need a working prototype to patent this? Oh well, I guess at least the patent will be expired before these devices actually exist.
direct hit: That's where everybody moves side to side in unison and then falls to the floor.
Then some panel blows and sparks fly everywhere - why they stopped using fuses in the future is anyone's guess.
And the guy in he red shirt will be dead. All others will be just unconscious.
Shit! Wrong franchise!
Star Wars features force fields that can, for example, hold the air in a spacecraft hangar even while a spacecraft flies out.
Boeing has developed a technology where lasers fire a burst of energy to turn air into plasma, causing a shock wave. When sensors detect an incoming pressure wave (from an explosion or whatever) this system creates a counter-wave.
Even when I squint and wave my hands a lot, those two things don't look much alike.
The prior art on this is not Star Wars, but reactive tank armor.
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
We urgently need a deflector that will shield us from click-bait. And look as good as Uhura in a miniskirt!
Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
In the prequels, we saw them on the Naboo fighter ships. Also, don't forget the destroyer droids with their bubble shields, and the Gungans with their animal-mounted battlefield shields, and even hand-held shields. There are plenty more examples from the next two movies as well.
In the original trilogy, I don't recall seeing the shields themselves, but both the rebels (on Hoth) and the empire (on Endor) protected their assets with large, ground-based shield generators. There are also references in the dialogue as well ("Switch your deflectors on - double front!").
You really blocked out a lot, didn't you...
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
Last time I heard about force fields and deflector shields, we created a wormhole, made the USS Eldridge disappear, and caused a bunch of navy personnel to get embedded in the bulkhead of the ship
"Uhura in a miniskirt" is the ultimate click-bait, and it's not even a link!
This was the most perfect, organic opportunity for a rick-roll in years.
Geek card revoked, Ms. Thwacks. Geek card revoked.