New Microwave Gun Puts an End to Car Chases
Growing up in Southern California you see a lot of car chases on TV. They’re a sick sort of tradition, with an interruption to regularly scheduled programming and friends gathering around to watch. It’s the equivalent of LA’s NASCAR, the fans are looking for a wreck. The problem is they put lives at risk and damage property. Eureka Aerospace in Pasadena, CA plans to put an end to the madness.
Their new device beams microwaves from high above in police helicopters, frying the electrical systems of cars that try to flee. The prototype has been in the works since 2003. Using a powerful 300 megahertz radio frequency, it focuses radiation via a narrow beam, disabling vulnerable electrical components. For comparison purposes, the frequency of an average kitchen microwave is 2.45 gigahertz, which is less powerful. Yet just like the kitchen microwave it’s harmless to humans.
A beam lasting 50 nanoseconds is enough to fry electrical components such as wires, eventually shorting out the cars microprocessor. Four cars were paralyzed in tests from 10 to 50 feet away. That’s cutting it a little close to shoot it by chopper, but the California Highway Patrol thinks they’re up to the task.
Although people may worry that it’ll end this cherished form of entertainment, there is yet hope. After shining a light and giving a verbal warning the police intend to use it to intentionally stop vehicles where the suspect would have problems getting away on foot. Thus turning car chases into a live “Cops” episode.
It cuts down the risk to human life and property, uses amazing future tech and still has entertainment value? White Broncos, beware, the LAPD is ready for you.
Related Posts:
- None
lordmanilastone said
am December 5 2007 @ 10:37 pm
this is cool and exciting, i wish I could see an actual demo, i have never seen actual car chases yet but in movies and i think this microwave gun will surely end the excitement there is in this madness…but it will lessen the number of innocent victims…^^
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 5 2007 @ 11:02 pm
@lordmanilastone, it’s almost too bad that we have to give up what some might call our culture of chases here in Southern California. We are known for them around the world. But at lest something is being done to keep us safe.
The tech behind this device seems very old. The application is brilliant. I can’t wait to see it in action on a video.
Connie T. said
am December 6 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Hm. Not sure how much safer this would be for innocent bystanders. If a freeway is fairly empty of other vehicles, then it would be ok, but stopping a fleeing car in the middle of heavy-yet-steadily-flowing-traffic could cause an accident with surrounding drivers. And who knows how the driver in the getaway car would react? The scenario would have to be very specifically laid out with some great precision, by both the chopper and squad cars.
Conceptually however, its a very cool idea. Maybe it could be attached to police cars as well.
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 9 2007 @ 2:10 am
@Connie T., that’s the whole thing, I’m not so sure it would be safe at all to use in just about any capacity. As you know, just about every freeway in So Cal doesn’t exactly have a safe spot for this type of technology to isolate a car.
At the moment 10 feet seems to be a little close as well. But yeah, it would be great if they could attach it onto the squad cars. Something tells me people would pull over a lot quicker if they knew the copper in back of them was about to fry their ride.
nicusor said
am December 11 2007 @ 4:28 am
Why isn’t this already in action – maybe too expensive for PD?
And another thing, what happens if this weapon gets in the wrong hands?
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 11 2007 @ 10:23 am
@nicusor, it’s still under testing but it’s expected to go live any day. I’m not too sure that the costs would be high enough for the LAPD, they love their toys.
As of now this weapon is pretty small and lightweight, so it is possible that it could fall into the hands of the “bad guys.” That’d be an interesting chase. The guy in the car frying all the cop cars as he’s making his way to freedom?
Rob said
am December 16 2007 @ 10:57 am
Yes this is cool and exciting. But on the other side it is a little frightening. Just imagine what other crazy things like this will be common in the near future.
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 16 2007 @ 12:06 pm
@Rob, I guess you can always make the argument that if most of the defense tech the US develops were to be used on its citizens our country would be a pretty scary place.
Oh wait, it already is being used to monitor just about everything we do!