Nonlethal combined flash and sound pulse projector for counter-personnel and crowd control

Raymond Schaefer; Michael Grapperhaus

doi:10.1117/12.663902

12 May 2006 Nonlethal combined flash and sound pulse projector for counter-personnel and crowd control

Raymond Schaefer, Michael Grapperhaus

Proceedings Volume 6219, Enabling Technologies and Design of Nonlethal Weapons; 621901 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663902
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2006, Orlando (Kissimmee), Florida, United States

Abstract

This paper presents a non-lethal concept using an innovative directed energy pulser for counter-personnel and crowd control. A high power pulsed electrical discharge, initiated using a wire in air, simultaneously generates a loud acoustic report and a bright light pulse. A reflector directs and focuses the 'flash/bang' to deliver high intensity pulses at range. The counter-personnel and crowd control effect is variable through both the intensity of each pulse and the pulse repetition rate. The system can be battery powered, and man portable or mounted on a jeep or other vehicle. This 'air sparker' is different from existing flash-bang approaches which employ a chemical reaction from a 'grenade', and different from laser approaches that generate a plasma in the vicinity of the targeted personnel. A design example using quantitative laboratory measurements, and reflector design and modeling, exhibits the output potential of air sparkers. Using generic non-lethal effects available in the open literature, the design example indicates that air sparker technology may have widespread non-lethal applicability. New sparker technology can lead to compact efficient systems. Development of air sparkers for non-lethal counter-personnel and crowd control should address both the technology and the combined effects.

Citation Download Citation

Raymond Schaefer and Michael Grapperhaus "Nonlethal combined flash and sound pulse projector for counter-personnel and crowd control", Proc. SPIE 6219, Enabling Technologies and Design of Nonlethal Weapons, 621901 (12 May 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663902

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available