Protecting Pilots, Soldiers From Blinding Lasers

[Midav]

UCF Research Aimed At Protecting Pilots, Soldiers From Blinding Lasers

An enemy laser beam can reach and blind a pilot or soldier in about a billionth of a second. University of Central Florida researchers are trying to develop an eyeglass-like device that would react quickly enough to prevent such beams from blinding soldiers, pilots or police officers, potentially saving their lives.
Working with chemistry researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, UCF scientists already have the technology to make objects darken quickly enough to prevent blindness from a laser beam, said Eric Van Stryland, dean of UCF's College of Optics and Photonics. The next step is to incorporate that technology into an object small enough to be worn comfortably by soldiers and pilots.

The UCF-led team of chemists, engineers and optical scientists wants to come up with a way to fit the technology in a device not much bigger than a standard pair of eyeglasses, said Van Stryland, who is also director of the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers and the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence at UCF.

The new technology works like sunglasses that gradually get darker when the people wearing them step into sunlight and lighter when they return inside.

The technology for soldiers and pilots must work a lot faster, as a typical laser beam lasts only about 10 billionths of a second (10 nanoseconds) and travels one foot every billionth of a second. At that speed, the damaging laser pulse can reach a pilot flying at 10,000 feet in 10 millionths of a second.

The transparent materials in the device would have to recognize laser beams of any color and, as the atoms and molecules responded to the light, immediately darken to protect the eyes. Basically, the laser beam would provide the energy needed to spark the electronic interactions in the chemicals that would temporarily darken the devices.

Researchers are trying to find a liquid material with atoms that would break up easily to block the lasers and then come back together quickly so that vision is restored. Unlike a solid, a liquid material could break up and come back together several times in response to multiple threats.

While lasers have yet to cause major problems for the military during war, Van Stryland said they could begin to as laser technology becomes more available and less expensive. Since lasers also could become a weapon for criminals, police officers also could benefit from a device developed by the UCF and Georgia Tech researchers.

The Army Research Office has provided $1 million for the project, and researchers hope to receive more money from the agency in the next few years.

US Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, helped to secure the $1 million and plans to help UCF obtain additional funding for the research.

"This funding provides a great opportunity for Central Florida scholars to participate in the development of cutting-edge technology," Feeney said. "UCF students will now play a significant role in the protection of the men and women serving our country, both at home and abroad."

Here (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/laser-04l.html)

[MVSpartan117]

who the hell uses lasers?

My sister goes to UCF

[b.scheller]

saddam hussein had a laser that could destroy the world...but you know, he put it on his truck and drove it all over the country so the americans wouldnt find out... :roll:

[Midav]

Yes, yes. I realize we all still use bows and arrows...

Let's not prepare for anything and dump the technology that goes into this. :roll:

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Pretty cool stuff...I believe they had some similar devices for nuclear bomber crews (anybody have info on that?). Probably not as fast-acting.

But would be more useful would be full contact lenses that darken up when people start to piss you off. Your eyes would turn totally black, and freak out your enemies. Then you could act all evil & talk in a weird devil voice "I must destroy you now..". That would rule.

[UkrainianAmerican]

Um, am I missing something. My friend used to point his 20 buck laser pointer at his eye, and nothing happened.
:|

[Seraphim]

Um, am I missing something. My friend used to point his 20 buck laser pointer at his eye, and nothing happened.
:|

Well not all lasers run on a AAA battery p-)

[usa320]

There have been reports of N. Koreans experimenting with blinding laser technology...

Even if you can reach the plane with the laser, what is the chances of being able to zero in on a pilot's eyes ina plane 20,000 feet above you moving at 600mph?

[Seraphim]

There have been reports of N. Koreans experimenting with blinding laser technology...

Even if you can reach the plane with the laser, what is the chances of being able to zero in on a pilot's eyes ina plane 20,000 feet above you moving at 600mph?

Its called a wide beam...cone shaped.

[GazB]

Blinding lasers have huge advantages... they are straight line weapons... no ballistic curve to calculate. The beam reaches the target so quickly that at normal distances it can be considered instant which means that corrections for target speed are almost zero.
And of course the different wavelengths available means that the target won't know they are being targetted till it is too late. (Some IR frequencies will travel through your eyelid so closing your eyes won't even save them.)

Most importantly the power levels required to merely blind are easy to achieve now and the technology is relatively cheap.

[Mongrel]

I can see the possibility of some sort of small strobing unit on a tripod that bursts off Laser light in a set direction, and if you are looking in its firing field... that is it...white cane, and guide dog time.

Also note if they are thinking of the preventive measures, then this prob' means thay are coming out with a weapon.

Also aren't the targeing lasers on tanks etc pretty intense?
Cheers!
M.

[Flagg]

Let's not prepare for anything and dump the technology that goes into this.

But if we prepare for everything we'll be broke....Econ 101

CLAW(Combat Laser Assault Weapon) was a program/prototype developed and abandoned in the 1980's by the US Army.

I think largely due to the fact it was regarded as inhumane and unsporting to blind your opponent(as opposed to blowing him to bits with high explosives) it was given the sack.

Pretty good idea to blind enemy optics(and their users) though.

I suspect the good guys have a couple of these type of thingies about.....you never know when you might need them for a special occasion.

I also reckon tech savvy bad guys might make use of them.

frickin lasers are cool

[Midav]

Let's not prepare for anything and dump the technology that goes into this.

But if we prepare for everything we'll be broke....Econ 101

CLAW(Combat Laser Assault Weapon) was a program/prototype developed and abandoned in the 1980's by the US Army.

I think largely due to the fact it was regarded as inhumane and unsporting to blind your opponent(as opposed to blowing him to bits with high explosives) it was given the sack.

Pretty good idea to blind enemy optics(and their users) though.

I suspect the good guys have a couple of these type of thingies about.....you never know when you might need them for a special occasion.

I also reckon tech savvy bad guys might make use of them.

frickin lasers are cool

If the article wasn't enough, here's more:


Lasers Allegedly Blind Pilots
The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating four reports of pilots being temporarily blinded by lasers while flying aircraft in the Los Angeles area. The last reported incident occurred when the pilot of a United Airlines Boeing 737 felt a powerful green light flash in his eyes. The light allegedly came from a subdivision near Ontario International Airport. A UPS jet also approaching the Ontario, Calif., airport was swept by a similar beam, blinding the pilot. The co-pilot landed the plane. Other incidents included the temporary blinding of the captain flying a Skywest plane as he approached Los Angeles.


Here (http://www.photonics.com/spectra/news/XQ/ASP/pbullid.51/QX/read.htm)


ROBBERS and hooligans are exploiting the latest technology of miniature lasers to blind their victims in a trend that has alarmed senior police officers.

Shopkeepers, motorists and even leading footballers have fallen victim to the hand-held devices that usually temporarily blind victims, but can cause permanent damage to the retina.

There have been cases in America and Canada of airline pilots who have been blinded by beams from industrial lasers pointed from the ground. One pilot flying a United Airlines Boeing 747 into Ontario narrowly avoided losing his sight after being blinded by a powerful green light.

Although potentially dangerous, the smaller hand-held versions used by people such as lecturers to highlight details on boards and screens, or by nightclub bouncers to pinpoint troublemakers, can be bought for only £30 in high street stores.

Most lasers available on the high street have one milliwatt of power, thought by experts to be safe. However, it is easy to find others that shine a beam of up to 50 milliwatts, which would instantly damage the eye. Last week a Sunday Times reporter bought a hand-held laser of 10 milliwatts at a market in Camden, north London.

John Midwinter, professor of electrical engineering at University College London, who has studied lasers for 30 years, said that any laser of more than five milliwatts might be harmful: "The types of lasers available from high street stores are worrying. They have the potential to blind and harm people if they fall into the wrong hands."

Among the victims of laser robbery or hooliganism are:

* Rajan Patel, 35, a shopkeeper from Tooting, south London, robbed of £550 by three youths, one armed with a hand-held laser.

* Vinnie Jones, the Wimbledon footballer, who was targeted by Leicester City supporters with lasers in a Coca-Cola semi-final in February. As he stepped up to take a throw-in, the red light was shone in his face. Leicester has banned the lasers from the ground.

* Rally drivers have been warned about lasers after a light was directed at cars in Birmingham three weeks ago, causing a crash in which one competitor suffered cuts and bruises.

* Motorist James Reeve, 22, from Acton, west London, was struck last week. It was 10 minutes before he regained normal vision.

Police are concerned that there is no legislation governing the sale of lasers, although those misusing them can be prosecuted under existing legislation on the use of threatening weapons.

Brian Mackenzie, president of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "We may need additional legislation to cover the sale and distribution of lasers." Some battery-operated low-powered lasers, which cost between £30 and £150, are shaped like pens and emit a single red beam that can travel the length of a football pitch.

In America, the misuse of the more expensive industrial lasers has prompted the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to issue warnings to airlines and pilots about the dangers they pose. In December a helicopter pilot had his corneas burnt when he focused with binoculars on a light coming from the ground.

Lasers, which produce narrow beams of light capable of travelling vast distances without dispersion, were invented more than 30 years ago. Because they can carry much more information than radio waves they have been used for communications as well as cutting, drilling, welding and surgery.

Here (http://eagle.westnet.gr/~cgian/laser.htm)


Hunter backs local Navy officer nearly blinded by Russian laser

by Otto Kreisher
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE


WASHINGTON -- A San Diego-based Navy officer whose eyes were damaged by an apparent laser beam from a suspected Russian spy ship said yesterday he was injured by what was an act of war, terrorism or criminal conduct.

But, Lt. Jack Daly told a congressional panel, nothing happened to the Russians while his Navy career is in jeopardy because of official objections to his claims.

However, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, praised Daly for his "good service to the country" and said he would insist that the Navy treat the eye damage "as a service-related injury in every aspect, including its effect on his career."

Hunter, who led a successful fight last year to keep a Chinese shipping company from leasing space at the former Long Beach Naval Station, also said he might try to bar Russian ships from ports with sensitive military installations.

The incident involving Daly occurred April 4, 1997, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near the U.S. submarine base at Bangor, Wash.

The Navy intelligence officer was flying in a Canadian helicopter monitoring the Russian merchant ship Kapitan Man, which appeared to be shadowing a U.S. ballistic missile submarine.

A suspected laser device fired from the Kapitan Man left him and the Canadian pilot "victims of what could be argued was a hostile act in an undeclared war, an act of terrorism, and, at a minimum, a federal crime," Daly told Hunter's House Armed Services subcommittee on procurement.

He and Canadian Air Force Capt. Patrick Barnes have since suffered persistent pain and deteriorating eyesight, Daly said.

Although the use of a laser that blinds is a violation of international laws, "no formal or thorough investigation has ever been conducted into the incident," said Daly, now with Amphibious Group 3.

Daly said officials from the State Department and the White House insisted on notifying the Russians that the Kapitan Man would be inspected a day later and severely restricted the search. No laser device was found.

The Poway resident said he has been accused of fabricating the entire incident, his loyalty has been questioned and he was passed over for promotion.

Daly, 40, began his service as a Navy enlisted man and has 16 years of service. If he again is denied promotion this year, he could be forced from active duty, less than four years short of eligibility for retirement pay.

But Hunter said he would speak directly to Adm. Jay Johnson, the chief of naval operations, to insist that Daly's career be protected.

Hunter said Daly's experience led him to hold the hearing, which examined protections for military personnel from unconventional threats.

Senior officers at the hearing displayed the latest protective devices, including a variety of goggles or visors to protect against lasers.

But none of those protective devices was available to Daly or to the U.S. Army helicopter crewmen who were injured by a laser device over Bosnia last year. They now are being supplied to troops where the threat of laser attack exists, officials said.


Here (http://www.house.gov/hunter/LtDaly.htm)

It's not a waste of money to invest in tech to save someones vision. We need to pursue defensive technology for this stuff.

Just a matter of time before these things are in a more wide sread use.

[Flagg]

It's not a waste of money to invest in tech to save someones vision. We need to pursue defensive technology for this stuff.

Already done...

http://webs.lanset.com/aeolusaero/images/USAF%20TLSS%20Nuclear%20web.jpg

I think this is like the MANPADS issue.....it's a potential problem that's been around for decades, now that it could be used unconventionally it pops back onto the radar.

[memphiz]

Hey I wached a whole show on this yesterday on the discovery channel

[Mongrel]

Do yah get a Tie fighter from Star wars with that? :D
Looks neat'o..come to the dark side...

[Midav]

It's not a waste of money to invest in tech to save someones vision. We need to pursue defensive technology for this stuff.

Already done...

http://webs.lanset.com/aeolusaero/images/USAF%20TLSS%20Nuclear%20web.jpg

I think this is like the MANPADS issue.....it's a potential problem that's been around for decades, now that it could be used unconventionally it pops back onto the radar.

If memory serves me correct, that's issued to B-2 crews to protect from nuclear flashes.

Lasers evolve, much like bullets and vests. You don't stand still with one technology.

[Flagg]

Lasers evolve, much like bullets and vests. You don't stand still with one technology.

Ever heard of optical computing?

As conventional microprocessors reach theoretical performance limits big bucks have been invested in optical computing, widely considered to be the area of development offering the best potential for future computing performance.

The same tech used to create optical transistors(basically a piece of material capable of transitioning from clear to opaque at a speed approaching that of light) can be utilized in creating defensive measures against laser "blinding" systems.

In combination with existing optical filtering technology the good guys should be well covered.

The cost of defending an airliner(it's flight crew) against a laser "blinding" system would likely cost a mere fraction as compared to protecting it against MANPADS.

[Fintin]

a big ficking laser...and 1 million dollers...thats all i need

[Midav]

Lasers evolve, much like bullets and vests. You don't stand still with one technology.

Ever heard of optical computing?

As conventional microprocessors reach theoretical performance limits big bucks have been invested in optical computing, widely considered to be the area of development offering the best potential for future computing performance.

The same tech used to create optical transistors(basically a piece of material capable of transitioning from clear to opaque at a speed approaching that of light) can be utilized in creating defensive measures against laser "blinding" systems.

In combination with existing optical filtering technology the good guys should be well covered.

The cost of defending an airliner(it's flight crew) against a laser "blinding" system would likely cost a mere fraction as compared to protecting it against MANPADS.

I don't understand why this thread had to go so far to counter in why I began this thread to begin with.

In the end, we are agreeing with another. However, what the article talks about, unlike your posts of going into deep metaphors, are goggles for the eyes that are specifically made to counter lasers.

Eye blinding lasers are slowly becoming a growing threat and there are means to counter them.

That's all this is about. Is that a bad thing?

[usa320]

who the hell in Los ANgeles has a powerful enough laser to blind pilots?

WTF?

I hate to be captain obvious here, but why not just coat the windows of the aircraft with the material instead of the pilots glasses. I think having to wear the clunky things would distract the pilot.

[Mongrel]

I hate to be captain obvious here, but why not just coat the windows of the aircraft with the material instead of the pilots glasses. I think having to wear the clunky things would distract the pilot.

I was thinking the same thing, but maybe it is becuase pilots like to look cool... with fancy shades and such. ;)

Seriously thogh imagine your pilot getting on the plane with that stormtrooper outfit posted in the pic above. rofl

Cheers!
M.

[usa320]

Problem all goes back to the 90's when terrorism was looked upon as a non-issue, and materials, weapons and money was allowed to flow freely.

Had anyone payed attention to this stuff 5 years back we could have prevented it from becomming a problem.

[maw]

in case anyone cares, i don't if any of y'all have ever used a an/peq-2 or a an/paq-4c (or the older bravo), but any of these can blind an individual.
the peq2 has an ir illuminator as well as the aimer and that thing can cook an egg, i'm not kidding. there's another small laser i've seen some airforce types with called the gcm-1(?) that is supposed to be exceedingly dangerous to the naked eye. all these lasers present a real hazard on the modern battle field. they make a big stink about them on exercises.
western militaries appear to be moving towards eye safe lasers for ranging, illumination and target desgnation. recently, i was trying to range a gap and the engineeting laser in the theodolite didn't have the legs, anyhoo i got handed a leica vector somethingy which apparently had a range of 10,000 meters and was eye safe.

[Midav]

Guys, guys, guys...... we're not just talking pilots.
We are talking soldiers and police as well.

Read the article.

[Mongrel]

I remember reading something way back in a time magazine about troops in the first Gulf war were waring special glasses to protect them from targeting lazers etc.

Also I know a few people that make there own Holigrams as a hobby, and the old laser systems where expensive, bulky, and used lots of power.

Now the ones they use are super small, and affordable. they don't even consider walking into the rooms without eye protection, and not all of the lasers emit visable light.

So it is only a matter of time I guess.

Good topic..I find it interesting.

Cheers!
M.

[GazB]

One really good reason not to make the cockpit windscreen able to stop lasers is very simply that any kid with a hand held laser could make your windscreen completely Opaque when you are landing or taking off, or at any time.

Secondly there are plenty of anti optics lasers around that are designed to direct a broad beam laser (ie a vibrating mirror flashes the laser to form a vertical line and then this line is rotated 360 degrees...) any optical devices will reflect a little laser beam and its position is recorded and then targeted by a much more powerful laser designed to destroy the optical elements of the device.

If the optical device is a normal scope or pair of binoculars these laser proof sheets of material had better be made very strong to prevent a laser designed to melt optics from destroying them.


Hunter backs local Navy officer nearly blinded by Russian laser

Plenty of military personel have been "injured" by lasers over the years. It is very common for intense reflections from laser rangefinders and target markers to injure personel that are looking in the wrong direction at the wrong time.

[Zenchan]

:backhand: Apparently nobody here is aware of the current state of technology when it comes to Combat laser? The hazards of LRFs damaging eyes are real and a growing problem as mnore and more of these devices are currently hitting the military (and the civilian!) market.

BUT: The German Rheinmettall Corporation (the same people that make the German MG 3 and lots of selfguiding artillery) is currently conducting the development of a computerized ant-sniper-device that seeks out aiming optics such as a rifle scope, Elcan, ACOg etc - and then delivers a laser beam right through the optic, thereby destroying the shooters eye. Sounds sci-fi? No, it was alrfeady demonstrated last year at the Rheinmettal testing range northeast of the city of Hanover to a bunch of SWAT officers and german army people. There a still a couple hitches to iron out and the device is only in the prototype status (as of now) - but preproduction status is not far off.

Food for thoughts? Definetly! :fork:

[Mongrel]

[/quote]BUT: The German Rheinmettall Corporation (the same people that make the German MG 3 and lots of selfguiding artillery) is currently conducting the development of a computerized ant-sniper-device that seeks out aiming optics such as a rifle scope, Elcan, ACOg etc - and then delivers a laser beam right through the optic, thereby destroying the shooters eye.


Hold the check! Digital camera scopes already exist for the Civi market...and would be easy to modify for military application in the role of a digital sniper scope, and throw in the anti flare, and light surge protection circits that they use to get Digital pics of the sun...ie: a little chip detects light intensity, and mechaniclly shuts an apature or buffers the system electroniclly, and problem solved.

Then theoreticaly you could also have a system set with a micro computer that shows the sniper exactly where this anti sniper device is working from, making it yet another target.

Also of note I remember reading about the PSO sights on the Dragonov Sniper rifle that had a detection mode for IR units such as goggles etc..pretty handy when goggles are usally attached to the head. And this was built a while back.

Gotta love clever people. :D
And if I'm thinking of this then 200 others must be building version 5 and 6 by now. :D

Cheers!
M.

[Mongrel]

Hey look I managed to quote myself! :cantbeli:
M.

[Fargin]

...and then they should freakin' attach the lasers to sharks!