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Acoustic Bazooka Concept
The Acoustic Bazooka is a 2002 prototype that seems to have dropped out of sight. Whoever created the illustration shown below is an obvious devotee of 1950's sf.
(Acoustic Bazooka concept)
More recently, a device nicknamed the "acoustic bazooka," more formally known as the directed stick radiator... was developed to serve as either a voice-hailing signal device ... The original research effort, however, consisted of equipment development and was not intended to evaluate ... effects on humans. No results of any such testing have been published, to date, in the scientific literature. It has been suggested that the device could "have the capacity to knock people off their feet."
Unfortunately, it appears that the possible dangers of US have been much overrated.
When discussing the practical limitations of technology, however, Altmann suggested that, because of basic physical principles, the development ... is unlikely..."
I think they are missing out on the real potential of super-duper sound energy, anyway. The real use for an Acoustic Bazooka is the removal of obstacles.
Consider the original Acoustic Bazooka - Vavoom from the Felix the Cat cartoon.
(Vavoom from Felix the Cat)
DARPA planners, take note.
Via Wired.
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