Israel Developing Semi-Lethal Sonic Cannon To Control Rioters

developing? isnt this already in use all over the world?

The LRAD has been deployed, this article is about a new sonic weapon in development.

Question: How does the SOUND wave from this weapon travel six times the speed of SOUND? I don't know if that's possible, but a sonic boom could create the effects described in the article(i.e. death in 30 ft., deafening and stunning beyond that, etc.).

"Each sound burst lasts around 300 milliseconds, and travels from the cannon at almost six times the speed of sound."

Sound moving faster than the speed of sound? What?

In fact, there's nothing sonic about this weapon (did you even read the original article?). It emits shock waves produced by rapidly expanding gases from the combustion of a fuel mixture. Those shock waves are not sound waves. And your picture is of an LRAD, not a shock cannon.

I guess that would make this more of a supersonic pressure wave weapon, wouldn't it? It seems that generating soundwaves is more of a side effect rather than a operating principle. Just a thought, but if they describe this weapon in accurate terms, there's a chance that the international community would be in an uproar. However, referring to it under the same banner as a generally accepted non-lethal weapon would put it under a lot of people's collective radar's.

Yeah...I'm going to say that this article should be re-worked. Further proof why a blog for a magazine should be written by those who write the magazine. More and more I feel like this is written by ex-Gizmondo staff members.

Meh, misleading article leads to my mislead conspiracy theory. Note to self, always verify what I've read here through other sources.

Rocks vs. Sonic Boom Cannon....Yet one more tool for the Israelis to terrorize Palestinians with.

so if I'm understanding this right they're more or less making a WWII style vortex cannon? not really the safest toy, but it would do the job and be a lot easier to make then a LRAD.

It moves faster than the speed of sound because the air is so hot. Really though, it's just a shock wave cannon.

Referencing the weirding modules is pretty sad, that version of Dune sucked.

Ha. Of course. Semi Lethal - probably not. Lethal is a better fit.

""ender66b Posted:
01/19/10 at 1:19 pm
Rocks vs. Sonic Boom Cannon....Yet one more tool for the Israelis to terrorize Palestinians with.

------------------------------------------------------------
Bingo.

But I'm sure the Zionists will remind us that Muslims have killed far more Muslims than Israelis have.""

This is not intended to offend they are just my opinions, but your comments are ignorant.

@ender66b: Civilians might have rocks, but I'm sure the radical muslims some of which are suicide bombers carry something other than rocks. Who knows, maybe you're right and they've found some damn good exploding rocks.

@mrxchunkylover: Why not? Rocks kill people too! That also has nothing to do with this article but thanks for that input.

I love reading misinformation, whether it be in comments or actual articles.

p.s. "A desert people have developed a new weapon that uses sound instead of bullets. But this time, it will be used to control crowds instead of fighting giant worms or devious members of House Harkonnen." Funny to a dune fan? maybe. Very unprofessional way to start an article if you ask me. This site feels like I'm watching FOX. I know it's wrong but for some reason I still love it.

oh and hey... what's more harmful, going temporarily deaf or getting hit by rocks?

""Anyone within 30 to 50 meters from the cannon will feel like he's standing in front of a firing squad," he said. "He'll feel and hear the blast, but he won't be hurled to the ground. He'll be able to run away unharmed … and that's the point of this application.""

im going to have to agree with ender66. This is BS, "Thunder Generator cannon can cause death to people within 30 feet of the blast. For people farther away than 30 feet, the sonic boom will deafen them and knock them back" If under 30ft can cause death im sure the deafening would not be temporary at all. So its throw a rock, loose your life or at least your hearing for life. Why is this needed; the LRAD works just fine and caused no permanent damage.

Well I don't care what any of you say so long as the spice still flows.

Read the source of the article. anything over 10 meters has no lasting effects (as they say).

"If fired at less than 10 meters, the Thunder Generator could be lethal or inflict permanent damage, Fridman said. But when employed as intended at ranges of 30 meters or more, test data show that the shock waves will pass through people and objects without any lasting effects."

Make sure to note "WHEN EMPLOYED AS INTENDED." They have no intention of using this lethally.

This looks no more lethal then a tazer, rubber bullets, bean bags(shotgun), and the methods they use right now.
And fyi, LRAD has the ability to focus the sound waves at a high enough decibel to cause permanent damage.
If used as intended, it can very well be a non-lethal weapon.

And per the sources, the power can be varied for different applications. More powerful for Military, less for police, etc etc.

who are the Zionist?

"who are the Zionist?"

Zionism is like white nationalism but for Jews. A jewish state of Israel. I use the term 'white nationalism' because of how ironically similar it is to Zionism (heavy propaganda, self-segregation from the evil brown people, a victim complex, etc.).

We all know that those terrorists "hate our freedom" -- Bush said so. I mean, it couldn't be that these Freedom Fighters (I'm a word sorcerer, folks) have a score to settle from having their innocent families accidentally wiped out by something like a predator drone -- That would be absurd and it definitely couldn't be our foreign policy.

I'm not an Anti-Semite, but I think the US and the mainstream media have an unfair bias for the Israelis and against the Palestinians.

Anyway, back on topic, I wonder what the shockwave feels like. I don't think I've ever experienced the sensation of air hitting the body in such way. It sounds painful... (more wizardry/I'm so lame).

Another exemplary article from Stuart Fox showing the world how little anyone at the Popsci staff cares about editing or good journalism. Not only is almost all the information completely incorrect or describing a different weapon, but he was also able to throw in an offensive and obscure movie reference with little to do with the tech at hand.

I used to hate your articles Stuart Fox, but I had respect for them/you because you attract so many comments it seems your articles are the most popular on this site. But almost every single comment on this one is about how misinformed and downright wrong you are in this article.

and Rackmore, you think maybe a reason the US and mainstream media have a bias for Israelis and against the Palestinians is because Israel is our ally while Palestine is our and Israel's enemy that use similar tactics as the Japanese in WWII prompting us to use nukes. I don't get it but for some reason the media as well as the American public side with the country that doesn't suicide bomb the other. It must be a conspiracy - its all the jews running the TV networks trying to turn us into demons. I do believe you Rackmore that you are not an anti-semite, you won't be able to convince me however that your not an ignorant moron.

Wow comparing the Japanese to the Palestinians...that's a stretch. The Palestinians can't get cement, wood or steel to build homes because Israel won't allow those materials in there. Japan had the most powerful navy in the world during WW2.

And the US didn't invade Japan, take the land and call it their own because "the bible told them it was". And we didn't shoot first with Japan. Read up on your history and learn what actually happened during the "revolution" of Israel.

The only comparison you can make between Israel and Palestine is that of the Native Americans and the Colonists/Western expansionists. This invention is nothing more than the Gatling gun. Talk about ignorance - you actually think you can come up with a reason to use nukes against the Palestinians? Why not just round them up, put them into camps, remove their ability to have shelter and work, exterminate them with bombs and helicopters instead of nukes. Oh wait...you already are doing that. When was the last time we heard of that type of situation.

Maaaaaaan. How quickly we forget our pasts.

I'm all for technology and especially in these less than lethal environments but wow - ignorant. No one deserves what's happening in Palestine. Those two sides need to just merge and learn how to get along before some moron "nukes them".

Just an FYI, NO ONE deserves what people who practice radical religions do to other people, be it Palestinian Muslims or Israeli Jews. Both have radical sides which use terrorist-like tactics. The difference? There are more radical Muslim and that is why Palestine might get more bad attention. As long as the human race still believes in nationalism, there will never be peace in that region of the world.

Personally, I can come up with plenty of reasons to use nukes on any country, they're easy to come up with.

Also, the past is very much different then what you can 'read up on.'

"Why not just round them up, put them into camps, remove their ability to have shelter and work, exterminate them with bombs and helicopters instead of nukes. Oh wait...you already are doing that. When was the last time we heard of that type of situation."

bdhoro87 probably has nothing to do with rounding people in 2 camps but I know what you meant.
The last time you heard of this was.. Guantanamo?
But I think what you meant here is WWII? If so, you are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to far away with that comparison.

Misinformation trying to prove a point is not a good selling point for anyone.

You've gotta be kidding if you want anyone to sympathize with the Palestinians. People who really know there history will always sympathize with the Jews.
Beantown
"And the US didn't invade Japan, take the land and call it their own because "the bible told them it was". And we didn't shoot first with Japan. Read up on your history and learn what actually happened during the "revolution" of Israel."
You just sound really off your rocker here, telling me to read about what happened! Just a little history here: The Israelites presence ruled the region until around 1400 years ago when the Byzantines conducted a massacre of the jews in the region and subsequently lost the region in wars and the crusades until finally the Ottoman Empire controlled it until more recent times. Then around WW1 the British ministry ordered the UK to take control in order to establish a jewish state. From then on, the jews attempted to live harmoniously with the inhabitants of the region who rioted and revolted against a peaceful coexistence. Then during WWII when massive amounts of jews came to Israel seeking refuge from Nazi camps, and the Palestinians continued rioting, the UN split the state in two - which again the Jews agreed to yet the Palestinians started a full scale war instead of diplomacy.
Well the story goes on and on from there where the real fighting sets off and the politics get real fuzzy.
But it at least shows how ignorant Beantown's comment it.

"Talk about ignorance - you actually think you can come up with a reason to use nukes against the Palestinians?"
I know its the only way the fighting there will end but no I don't think thats a good idea. My only point about Japan and WW2 is that when a people have so little respect for their own lives as to use suicide bombing, there is little you can do besides go to war and stop them.
America has a very somber history concerning suicide bombers and we always make enemies with organizations that resort to such tactics. Maybe thats why the media (and anyone with a working brain) sides against suicide bombers and sympathize with the history of the jews.