US Military Tests Non-Lethal Heat Ray

URSpider writes "CNN and the BBC are reporting on a US military test of a new antipersonnel heat ray. The weapon focuses non-lethal millimeter-wave radiation onto humans, raising their skin surface temperature to an uncomfortable 130 F. The goal is to make the targets drop any weapons and flee the scene. The device was apparently tested on two soldiers and a group of ten reporters, which makes me wonder how thoroughly this thing has been safety tested. The government is also appealing to the scientific community for help in creating another innovative military technology: artificial 'black ice'. They hope to deploy the 'ice' in chase scenarios to slow fleeing vehicles." We discussed the military's certification to use the device last month.

I hate vultures.

[silentounce]

"The device was apparently tested on two soldiers and a group of ten reporters, which makes me wonder how thoroughly this thing has been safety tested."
 
You're worried about the soldiers, right?

Don't Forget!

[Life2Short]

I think if the University of Florida has taught us anything, you have to thoroughly soak your target first.

Popcorn

[The_Mr_Flibble]

How long after this thing is deployed will we see video's on you tube with soldiers using this thing to make popcorn ?
And how long after will we see drunk soldiers holding the popcorn whilst it's being made ?

Test it on me!

[Anonymous Coward]

I wish the government would follow me around for a few months testing this thing on me, it's friggen cold right now in New England!

Re:Raytheon's Silent Guardian

[jimicus]

Stationary firing position with 360-degree coverage

Wonderful! So you can shoot yourself without turning the gun around.

I agree

[wiredog]

We should just use the good old fashioned lethal weapons. Much less chance the people we are shooting at will get cancer 20 years from now.

The Simpsons quote you're looking for:

[Headcase88]

Grampa: What the hell is that?
Frink: Why, it's a death ray my good man, behold. (Frink fires death ray)
Grampa: Hey, feels warm, kinda nice.
Frink: Well it's just a prototype, with proper funding I'm confident this little baby could destroy an area the size of New York City.
Grampa: But I want to help people, not kill 'em!
Frink: Oh, well to be honest, the ray only has evil applications. You know my wife will be happy, she's hated this whole death ray thing from day one.

With thanks to The Simpsons Archive [slashdot.org]

Re:I hate vultures.

[COMON$]

Why not just build a huge satellite and fire the sucker off at entire nations from space? Ok ok, bad flashbacks of popcorn exploding from houses.

But seriously, I would rather have a heat gun pointed at me than tear gas next time I feel like rioting.

It's already 130 degrees in Iraq

[wthanna]

On a hot day, it can reach nearly 130 degrees in Iraq.. so if you use this weapon over there, they will look at each other and say "hot day today, Ishmael, eh?"

Foil hat?

[Aqua_boy17]

But seriously, I would rather have a heat gun pointed at me than tear gas next time I feel like rioting.

I personally am left wondering if a foil hat would be an asset or a liability in this case.

Re:I agree

[giminy]

Much less chance the people we are shooting at will get cancer 20 years from now.

Sure it's true that the lab mice don't get cancer 20 years from now after being shot in the face. Mouse physiology is quite different from ours, though.

In short, I don't think we've done enough carefully controlled human trials with bullets to make your claim. I'd suggest some form of double-blind experiment, shooting several thousand subjects from various socioeconomic classes with blanks and with bullets, and see what the effect on cancer rate is. I'll volunteer for the control group, which doesn't get shot at all. Providing a baseline for the population is probably the hardest job, as it takes the longest amount of time.

Reid

Re:Foil hat?

[COMON$]

considering what tinfoil does in a microwave you may at least go out in style like a giant sparkler.

Re:I hate vultures.

[blugu64]

"But seriously, I would rather have a heat gun pointed at me than tear gas next time I feel like rioting."

Doing anything weekend after next? I've got the itch for a good riot.