hi-tech zapper

Police test hi-tech zapper that could end car chases

http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/arti...259138,00.html

A hi-tech device that can bring speeding cars to a halt at the flick of a switch is set to become the latest weapon in the fight against crime.

Police forces in Britain and the US have ordered tests of the new system that delivers a blast of radio waves powerful enough to knock out vital engine electronics, making the targeted vehicle stall and slowly come to a stop.

David Giri, who left his position as a physics professor at the University of California in Berkeley to set up a company called ProTech, is developing a radio wave vehicle-stopping system for the US marine corps and the Los Angeles police department.

Tomorrow, at the Euroem 2004 science conference in Germany, Dr Giri will describe recent trials of the device. The tests proved that the system could stop vehicles from up to 50 metres away.

The bulk of the device is designed to fit in a car boot and consists of a battery and a bank of capacitors that can store an electrical charge. Flicking a switch on the dashboard sends a burst of electricity into an antenna mounted on the roof of the car. The antenna then produces a narrow beam of intense radio waves that is directed at the vehicle ahead.

When the radio waves hit the targeted car, they induce surges of electricity in its electronics, upsetting the fuel injection and engine firing signals. "It works on most cars built in the past 10 years, because their engines are controlled by computer chips," said Dr Giri. "If we can disrupt the computer, we can stop the car." A prototype is due to be ready by next summer.

The Association of Chief Police Officers confirmed that researchers at the Home Office's police scientific development branch are testing a radio wave vehicle-stopping system. "There's a potential to use this type of device to stop criminals on the road. High speed pursuits are very dangerous, especially in built-up areas," said an association spokesman.

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think ill go dust off the old GTO and mount a parabolic reflector in the trunk.

wonder what affect this would have on alarm systems, radio trasmission shacks, any kind of switching station in the wrong hands

I wonder how long it'll take some hardware hacker to build one themselves... then sell them to the public to be used on cop cars?

Also, is permanent damage done to the car's computer system?

What if they miss their target and hit Ms. Daisy's car next to mine?

Damn it reminds me of that device that they used in the Matrix REloaded, you know the one that they used on the HighWay scene were it made the cars stall..
I wonder if it's going to be something similar to that...

And i'm interested to if these devices will do permanet damage to the Automobile? Or will it only shoke the device's for like a few hours or something, cause that's really confused me.

If that goes into mainstream use there will be a gap in the market for emi shielding.of car electronics. Anyone want to set up a company.

Quote:

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Originally posted here by .:front2back:.
Damn it reminds me of that device that they used in the Matrix REloaded, you know the one that they used on the HighWay scene were it made the cars stall..
I wonder if it's going to be something similar to that...

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Hey Hey,

I can't place the use of a similar device in Matrix Reloaded, guess it's time to watch the movie again, but it sounds very similar to the devices they launched at the cars in 2 Fast 2 Furious, only without the need for the spike shot into the vehicle.

I'm glad I'm a big fan of old muscle cars, I'm definately go that way when I finally purchase my own vehicle.

Peace,
HT

although it says

"When the radio waves hit the targeted car, they induce surges of electricity in its electronics, upsetting the fuel injection and engine firing signals."

from my experiances with chips and power surges this could do damage to the chips but not as much damage as a high speed chase could do.

I was more concerned about innocent bystanders...

If someone is driving that fast and erratically... there are bound to be misses....

How fast can they "recharge" their device and get off another shot?

I'm really interested in this... sound like it could be used for both good and bad.

Could make for some fun nights a the top of an overpass picking off innocent vehicles.

ya know phish the same thing crossed my mind. i can see some kids on an overpass laughing their asses off. could probably do a rather fine job on surveylence cameras and ezpass transponders as well. but as far as misses...better than the alternatives like being hit by a speeding car while trying to drive home from work or crossing an intersection.

I think the question of damage to the car shouldn't exist. I mean, it's a chase, and for the most part the guy won't be driving for a while after that.

But this technology is definitely something to look into... for the good of it :)

I would think that this technology, in the wrong hands could be a very dangerous thing. We are talking about EMP here ( electro magnetic pulse). This devise would not just stop cars it would disrupt anything that uses electronic equipment. Computers for example.

It could be the ultimate DDos tool.

How cool would that be to have a railgun mounted on top of your car!?

I could have used this this AM on that bastard that cut me off and damn near made the car behind me smack into me cause I had to hit my brakes...

http://www.physics.northwestern.edu/...19/railgun.htm

http://www.physics.northwestern.edu/...5-2/19/emp.htm

Here is another neat one that I saw demonstrated at the National Criminal Justice Expo in Boston in 2000.

http://www.ustnow.com

It's called F.A.N.G.S. (Frequency Activated Neutralizing Generator System)

It's different in that it acts like Sub7 for cars: it requires "client" hardware and "server" hardware.

The "client" piece goes into the suspect's car (read: all new cars made) and the "server" side goes into cop cars.

Quote:

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*System involves installing a microchip into all new motor vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, etc.
*The microchip generates the associated vehicles V.I.N. only when activated by the police unit (L.E.U.).
*The radio wave emission is acquired through the use of an antenna built into windshield and rear window (reduces interference from metal parts of engine).
*Law enforcement officers' vehicles are fitted with equipment that 'intercepts' information from the airwaves.
*Once the vehicle's V.I.N. is 'locked into' officer can then computer-check the license plate, matching it to the cars associated V.I.N. (switched / stolen plate); a computer check of the automobile registration information and the owner's computer information can be made. The mechanical configuration of the unit is similar to that of a 'cruise control' system.
*Law enforcement could verify tampering or missing units through the use of frequency verification.
*Parts of the vehicle's state inspection could include verification that the system is intact and functioning.

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The cops can then basically take control of the car's electrical system and shut down the engine, turn on the flashers, etc.

given an infinite number of monkeys and an infinite number of disposable camera capacitors....