Sometimes you just want a car to stop moving. You don't really want to blow it up. And you're not necessarily looking to kill everyone inside, especially if they happen to be -- oh, for the sake of discussion -- a famous Italian journalist and the secret service agents who just rescued her from terrorist kidnappers. Alas, you don't have many good options.
The US Air Force's Air Armament Center wants to fix that. A request for information released on 15 January seeks a non-lethal weapon called, with appropriate simplicity, the "Car Stopper". See below:
I called up James Tatoian, Eureka's chairman and chief executive officer. He was not aware of the Air Armament Center's RFI, so I sent him the link. Eureka plans to demonstrate an improved version of its microwave-based car stopper next month for the Marines at Dahlgren naval warfare center. Tatoian describes his system as a 1.2m-wide "flat screen-like" antenna weight about 50-55lbs. With that aperture, it can disable cars up to 200m away by disrupting their electrical systems. One drawback: the car has to rely on electricity to operate, so many cars manufactured before the mid-1970s are immune to its effects. See video demonstration below:
The US Air Force's Air Armament Center wants to fix that. A request for information released on 15 January seeks a non-lethal weapon called, with appropriate simplicity, the "Car Stopper". See below:
The Air Force Air Armament Center (AAC), 308th Armament Systems Wing, Rapid Acquisition Cell is seeking information that could lead to development of an air-delivered capability to disable moving ground vehicles while minimizing harm to occupants. Development schedule is expected to be a critical factor in any potential development effort, so responses should focus on feasibility and maturity of the key technologies. Responses should include candidate integration concepts which take maximum advantage of existing infrastructure in order to minimize cost and development time.A quick Google search for "car stopper" led me to Eureka Aerospace, which it turns out is already being funded by the US Marine Corps and the Office of the Secretary of Defense to do exactly that.
I called up James Tatoian, Eureka's chairman and chief executive officer. He was not aware of the Air Armament Center's RFI, so I sent him the link. Eureka plans to demonstrate an improved version of its microwave-based car stopper next month for the Marines at Dahlgren naval warfare center. Tatoian describes his system as a 1.2m-wide "flat screen-like" antenna weight about 50-55lbs. With that aperture, it can disable cars up to 200m away by disrupting their electrical systems. One drawback: the car has to rely on electricity to operate, so many cars manufactured before the mid-1970s are immune to its effects. See video demonstration below:
on January 19, 2010 9:21 PM | Reply
Sounds like a 'Diet Gunship"....hope Eureka gives Stephen a commission if they get the contract! (Or at least a bottle of wine).
on January 19, 2010 9:45 PM | Reply
I accept thank you's and all alcholic beverages.
on January 20, 2010 1:39 PM | Reply
"One drawback: the car has to rely on electricity to operate, so many cars manufactured before the mid-1970s are immune to its effects."
That may be true for gas powered vehicles, but I would be even more worried about diesel powered vehicles built up through the 90s and beyond that don't use electronic controls.
on February 13, 2010 4:45 AM | Reply
what about pure diesel cars?
on February 28, 2010 2:59 AM | Reply
Sounds like a good device for neighbors that blast the stereo at 2:oo in the morning.
Push a button ---ZAAAP- nice and quiet now....
Back to sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzz.
on February 28, 2010 3:00 AM | Reply
Sounds like a good device for neighbors that blast the stereo at 2:oo in the morning.
Push a button ---ZAAAP- nice and quiet now....
Back to sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzz.
on April 8, 2010 1:42 AM | Reply
A smaller, short-range version of this would be great to install in the trunk, to deal with tailgaters!
A separate car battery would probably be enough to power it for a short-range burst, especially if it was helped with a parabolic antenna aimed rearward. The parabola could also help shield one's own car's electronics from the burst.
This is almost certainly one of the trickle-down technologies we'll be seeing in 10 years.
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