Car chase zapper to end OJ-style chases
Carbon paper, fax machines…the PDA and now the car chase— say goodbye to TV news interruptions bringing you live coverage of the car chase, thanks to the new zapper.
A new device could effectively end car chases by zapping car microprocessors with a quick jolt of energy. The prototype has been commissioned by law enforcement agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, and could be ready as soon as next summer.
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.
Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and David Giri, president of ProTech, the product's maker.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
In 2004 this is just being implemented in Law enforcement? When in reality (the real world to use a cliche) this technology has been around and in use by professional (what?) for YEARS. Why, just take a look at these sites:
www.amazing1.com
http://www.plans-kits.com
Time to play catch up American law good guys! The bad guy has been there and gone :( Scarey when you think about it.
Cool gun though! :-D
Simon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
The Collateral Damage will probably make it to the news though ;)
Or did they make the electromagnetic pulse 'smart'? If not it will fry ANY chip in it's path.
Chip Thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
I actually heard the piece. They said right now they have the ability to stop a car. What they ar e working on is stopping just one car. :)
http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=3327049
david @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
what if one of these falls into the wrong hands, the idea of a teenager playing a trick on me isnt that comforting
Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
Ol' uncle Jesse was right -- there's nothing like a 1969 Dodge Charger for evading the fuzz when running moonshine, smuggling arms, or whatever...no chips of any kind! I wonder if this will make selling a pre-microchip car "aiding and abetting" if it later gets used to evade police.
Wim Bonner @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
I think I heard the segment on NPR, and the biggest worry about a device like this is that it's not just the engine that has electronic chips in it, but most of the safety equipment is driven by computer chips as well. What sort of issues are there if you disable the air bags on the car you are trying to stop?
More importantly is what happens when you disable the air bags on the car that the fleeing suspect is just about to run into?
Zer0cool @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
Just think, now anyone can own the amazin laser, it can stop cars and possibly shock people, but don't woory the amazin laser is made out of high quality plastic so you can even take onto planes or to government buildings. Yay!
Peter Pan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM
I wonder if this gun can zap airplanes?
If it's been around longer than most of us are aware of, how many unsolved airplane crashes could be explained? Not that there are any mysterious crashes that one need to be concerned about... (in memory of Paul Wellstone)...