Less Lethal Weapons
- Thread starter Todg
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alexraccoon
SOC-1
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There is a 1981 film Looker where the villians had a light weapon that caused a form of absence seizure similar to being stunned. The weapon would probably be fairly short ranged and be blocked by filtered glasses of some kind
Assuming that even works. There are certaionly people (epileptics) that are vulnerable to flashing lights, which seems to be where the idea came from. Crichton used this earlier, in Andromeda Strain.
Another possibility is Green laser light. You'll go flash blind from a green laser without permanant retina damage as long as the power isn't too high.
http://www.laserdazzler.net/
Obviously, the appropriate lenses would nullify this item.
Another possibility is Green laser light. You'll go flash blind from a green laser without permanant retina damage as long as the power isn't too high.
http://www.laserdazzler.net/
Obviously, the appropriate lenses would nullify this item.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
So, something that projects the smell of a Type S Scout ship might work?
The objective was -less- lethal ...
Shotguns come to mind. Large slow projectiles have a certain amount of flexibility. Especially if you up the size slightly.
Netgun shells. In a 25 or 30 mm shell it should be possible to pack an expanding net projectile. This would have to be much lower powered then normal shotgun shells.
Alternative goo delivery system.
Low velocity rubber bullets with recessed hypodermic action. That or sponge rounds.
Finegrained chemical delivery system, at a pinch something like ground dried capsicum. Sure the range might only be a couple of metres, but having a handful of irritant embedded in your skin can be ... irritating. Also good for temporary blindness.
... and a myriad other options to pack into a smoothbore gun shell.
The smell option isn't a bad one, there are certain nausea inducing chemicals that should act on many people. Starting with your basic tear gas grenade, and going up to the terrifying "Type S grilled cheese sandwich" compound.
Most less lethal options fall down against armor (in some cases light clothing and a hanky). Can anyone think of a weapon that might incapacitate armored troops? Something like goo might work, but that falls down against ablative armour of any type.
Shotguns come to mind. Large slow projectiles have a certain amount of flexibility. Especially if you up the size slightly.
Netgun shells. In a 25 or 30 mm shell it should be possible to pack an expanding net projectile. This would have to be much lower powered then normal shotgun shells.
Alternative goo delivery system.
Low velocity rubber bullets with recessed hypodermic action. That or sponge rounds.
Finegrained chemical delivery system, at a pinch something like ground dried capsicum. Sure the range might only be a couple of metres, but having a handful of irritant embedded in your skin can be ... irritating. Also good for temporary blindness.
... and a myriad other options to pack into a smoothbore gun shell.
The smell option isn't a bad one, there are certain nausea inducing chemicals that should act on many people. Starting with your basic tear gas grenade, and going up to the terrifying "Type S grilled cheese sandwich" compound.
Most less lethal options fall down against armor (in some cases light clothing and a hanky). Can anyone think of a weapon that might incapacitate armored troops? Something like goo might work, but that falls down against ablative armour of any type.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
Well, veltyen, it would depend on how the armor was intended to ablate - if it is designed for laser fire, it might not ablate with goo/glue.
A take on the net idea, though, would be a bola round. Two weights with a heavy duty cord between could conceivably take down an armored suit (aimed at the legs). (And, a monomolecular wire would be something other than "less-than-lethal"!) Also, powered armor could be hit by EMP weapons - no hardening is perfect.
A take on the net idea, though, would be a bola round. Two weights with a heavy duty cord between could conceivably take down an armored suit (aimed at the legs). (And, a monomolecular wire would be something other than "less-than-lethal"!) Also, powered armor could be hit by EMP weapons - no hardening is perfect.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
Yeah, but would it work on some drug-crazed maniac running about hacking at "them" that are trying to get him?
Even wororks against Jujunta peril sensitive sunglasses?
There are flash protective googles rated for nuclear blasts. Can't imagine that the strobe-stunner world be faster/brighter than that.
http://www.fb-111a.net/goggles.html
There are flash protective googles rated for nuclear blasts. Can't imagine that the strobe-stunner world be faster/brighter than that.
http://www.fb-111a.net/goggles.html
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123012699
New technology 'dazzles' aggressors
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- Capt. Drew Goettler demonstrates the Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response, or PHaSR, a non-lethal illumination technology developed by the laboratory's ScorpWorks team. The technology is the first man-portable, non-lethal deterrent weapon intended for protecting troops and controlling hostile crowds. The laser light used in the weapon temporarily impairs aggressors by illuminating or "dazzling" individuals, removing their ability to see the laser source. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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by Eva D. Blaylock
Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Public Affairs
11/2/2005 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- A laser technology weapon will be the first man-portable, non-lethal deterrent weapon intended for protecting troops and controlling hostile crowds.
The weapon, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, employs a two-wavelength laser system and is a hand-held, single-operator system for troop and perimeter defense. The laser light used in the weapon temporarily impairs aggressors by illuminating or "dazzling" individuals, removing their ability to see the laser source.
The first two prototypes of the Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response, or PHaSR, were built here last month and delivered to the laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate at Brooks City Base, Texas, and the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate at Quantico, Va. for testing.
"The future is here with PHaSR," said Capt. Thomas Wegner program manager. Captain Wegner is also the ScorpWorks flight commander within the laser division of the energy directorate here. ScorpWorks is a unit of military scientists and engineers that develops laser system prototypes for AFRL, from beginning concept to product field testing.
The National Institute of Justice recently awarded ScorpWorks $250,000 to make an advanced prototype that will add an eye-safe laser range finder into PHaSR. Systems such as PHaSR have historically been too powerful at close ranges and ineffective but eye-safe at long ranges. The next prototype is planned to include the addition of the eye-safe range finder and is planned for completion in March 2006.
(Courtesy of AFMC News Service)
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
Back in the day, onboard any Strategic Air Command aircraft. We had to fly with these things on every so often (for currency) - God forbid you had an iffy connection to the electrical connectors on your helmet. Of course, we also had to fly with big aluminum foil inserts in our windows, and the PLZT goggles came with an eye-patch to wear underneath for the real deal (not for training, since they didn't want to impair your depth perception). You could never be too protected from flash-blindness!
I would also expect defenses against laser dazzlers to become more common; the military is certainly working on them (current anti-laser coatings rely on blocking specific wavelengths which are useful for lasers. Frequency-agile lasers which can use any wavelength are a big concern).
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
Here is the latest on piracy off Somalia. They used a sonic weapon to repel boarders! (And, it ties neatly into this thread on A Piracy Paradigm!) 
