Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by cmn32480 on Sunday July 31 2016, @02:54PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-just-for-stopping-speeders-anymore dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

To increase public security, the EU SAVELEC project has demonstrated a prototype device that can stop non-cooperative vehicles, both safely and at distance.

In its endeavour to keep the public safe, one of the key challenges facing European security services is the ability to control and stop, at distance, non-cooperative vehicles posing a threat. However, this ability presents more than a technical challenge. To comply with EU legislation, as well as adhere to ethical concerns, the technology would also have to be safe for the user, the driver (and passengers), as well as members of the public and the material infrastructure of the surrounding environment.

The SAVELEC (Safe control of non cooperative vehicles through electromagnetic means) project developed a prototype device, after testing signals (magnetic pulses and microwave), which interfered with key car components, forcing it to slow down and stop. With the contribution of security forces as the ultimate end users, the researchers were able to simulate the technology's use in realistic scenarios.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Hyperturtle on Sunday July 31 2016, @03:42PM

    by Hyperturtle (2824) on Sunday July 31 2016, @03:42PM (#382291)

    Sounds like it is time to get a motorcycle license. Those would likely be easier to keep running with just old school know-how. Also easier to take off the road, but the driver is also easier to disable remotely via a drone with a taser. Your tinfoil motorcycle helmet had better be grounded! The drone need only follow the IMEI number targeted; like amazon deliveries when the drone is in range and you can accept the delivery upon having stepped outside of your home. In any event, a motorcycle can provide the illusion of freedom--at least for a little while.

    Most of these public safety technology requirements as of late seem to enrich the people we voted in. I am the type that won't accept the discount to put some spy device in my car and report on my driving. I have had a clean record and would benefit financially from it, but I'd feel like I sold out humanity by helping usher in the era of a global panopticon, in exchange not even for security or safety--but so I can buy more stuff. I sell myself out for some things (considering I live in modern society) but I resist what makes sense to me... portable rats and kill switches being amongst them. Maybe while we're forced to the side of the road, personalized ads can display to distract us while we await whatever is coming our way? I mean, with a remote kill-switch, I would have to believe the doors would become locked (for your safety) and the windows will be sealed (also for your safety). With the remote kill-switch also comes the authority unlock command. Perhaps the doors will open to people with the right RFID in their uniform/badges. It's not like that isn't already the case with various electronic home deadbolts.

    I imagine the robot cars of the future will have this baked in; Google didn't even want people to access a steering wheel, so a remote kill switch seems to be a given from the start -- a local kill switch (the brakes) wasn't part of their original intent, because people being more than passive consumers of Google technologies tend to get in the way of the overall goals they have.

    One thing you can be assured of is that this technology won't be used to help people stop at red lights; otherwise the revenue from the red light camera network will be negatively impacted. Of course, in the robot car future, I hope robot cars don't just speed through red lights... the information superhighway may have collision detection and retransmits; my body may not survive too many of those on the open road if cars are simply treated as moving packets with various priorities and qualities of service.

    The bulk commuter can get dropped first in the glorious future, I imagine, while the landed elite will get their lanes cleared so they can speed through.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Insightful=2, Total=2
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   4