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Hovering Crowd Control Beam
Helicopters now serve as the platform for a device that uses a microwave beam to cause a painful sensation in the skin of targeted individuals.
The transmitting antenna on the current system is 2 metres across, produces a single beam of similar width and is steered mechanically, making it cumbersome. At the heart of the new weapon will be a compact airborne antenna, which will be steered electronically and be capable of generating multiple beams, each of which can be aimed while on the move.
(Control control helicopter)
SF fans may recognize the copsyes from Larry Niven's 1972 story Cloak of Anarchy.
Someone at police headquarters had expected that. Twice the usual number of copseyes floated overhead, waiting. Gold dots ageist blue, basketball-sized, twelve feet up. Each a television eye and a sonic stunner, each a hookup to police headquarters, they were there to enforce the law of the Park.
(Read more about Niven's copseye)
Via New Scientist; thanks to Will Hobson for the tip on this item.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/2/2009)
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