New police pursuit-ending device inspired by Spiderman, squid
Click above for a walk-through of how the SQUID works
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate has been working with a research firm in Arizona that has come up with the Safe Quick Undercarriage Immobilization Device (SQUID). The SQUID is designed to safely, non-lethally stop drivers trying to elude the police.
Here's how it works. The SQUID disc is placed in the middle of the road, and a remote operator triggers a two-stage explosion when the getaway car gets close to it. The first explosion sends barbed straps flying out away from the disc, which get hooked on the wheels and undercarriage when the car drives over them. The second explosion occurs when the SQUID detects engine heat directly overhead and sends a burst of "sticky tendrils" that cling the straps to the axles and driveshaft. Within 500 feet, the axles can't turn any more and the car skids to a halt.
The key now is to make it lighter, stronger and cheaper. Last year the SQUID stopped a Dodge Ram pickup traveling at 35 mph, but authorities want to be sure it will stop an F-150 at 120 mph before they'll seriously consider using it. We aren't sure that an F-150 doing a four-wheel skid at 120 mph is the safest way to bring someone in, but it is probably better than bullets. The scientists are working on that this year, and if they get it done it could give the word "dragnet" a whole new meaning.
Check out a walk-through of how the SQUID works by clicking through the gallery below.
[Source: DHS via Physorg]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Davit 6:58PM (1/20/2009)
Nice way to kill someone at least when you going 120 and your tires blow you know what just happened, going 120 and something jumps and sticks to your car you panic especially if it involves a bomb like noise lol
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ronEbear 7:05PM (1/20/2009)
Anyone driving 120 on public roads DESERVE to die, slowly.
Davit 7:25PM (1/20/2009)
There's cases that people who have schizophrenia getting in these chases
ronEbear 7:39PM (1/20/2009)
If there are so many cases of people with schizophrenia running away from the police at 120 mph, why are they allowed to drive? Does schizophrenia = forgetting about the law? Or does the law not apply to schizophrenics.
If I have offended any driving schizophrenics know that I AM FOLLOWING YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE UNLESS YOU RUN FASTER!.
And my statement remains unchanged:
People who drive 120 on public roads DESERVE to die, slowly.
ronEbear 7:41PM (1/20/2009)
First one to spot the changes in my statement get a golden star, or at least a star shaped cookie.
jg 8:21PM (1/20/2009)
'If there are so many cases of people with schizophrenia running away from the police at 120 mph, why are they allowed to drive? '
What's 'allowed' got to do with it? Or the number of cases?
Chris 6:50PM (1/20/2009)
Looks like it'll work on rwd cars and trucks fine, but what about fwd vehicles? It could still wrap around the half-shafts but it would be a lot harder to make it work correctly.
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Patrick 6:51PM (1/20/2009)
Seems overly complicated. How about a helicopter with a big magnet hanging from it, that can swoop down and just pick up the vehicle and deposit it in a confined area.
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JDMlover 7:37PM (1/20/2009)
LMAO.
That dangerous...it could flip the chopper and cause MUCH more damage then needed.
Levi 8:33PM (1/20/2009)
also, remove occupants dental fillings, pacemakers, any metal objects in your pocket...
Justin 6:52PM (1/20/2009)
That has to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
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Johnnie 6:57PM (1/20/2009)
Isn't someone going to just drive around that thing.
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dwightB 7:25PM (1/20/2009)
That's what I was thinking. It's not like it's exactly inconspicuous, lol.
Franz 7:52PM (1/20/2009)
Ditto. People already drive around stop sticks, and this is only slightly less conspicuous... if you can call a big white disc sitting in the middle of the road inconspicuous.
Kiiks 7:58PM (1/20/2009)
I'MA KILL THAT FRISBEE!!!!
ken_aisin 9:21PM (1/20/2009)
I'm sure cars will drive around it. Some might even lose control and end up in accidents. What's gonna come next? Lawsuits.....
This has to be one of the most retarded design of 2009.
Kazoo 6:57PM (1/20/2009)
So if it's triggered by engine heat what happens when a Tesla rolls overhead?
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Davit 6:59PM (1/20/2009)
Wait till his battery dies lol
Jimbo 7:16PM (1/20/2009)
This is simply the wrong way to approach this. If drivers can swerve around a spike belt, it won't be too hard to miss this thing. There is a solution, but no one seems to look at the obvious.
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Rich 7:25PM (1/20/2009)
Ever heard the word "plural"?