A laser that stops traffic? Yes, a new light tool called “driver defeat” will help soldiers slow approaching cars from a distance so they can determine if the driver is friend or foe.
It works like this: When a laser is pointed at the eye, the flashes create an “afterimage,” an optical illusion that limits a person’s sight for a very short time. It’s a little like driving into the sun, says Gordon Hengst, a research physicist at Brooks City Air Force Research Lab.
So, “if somebody’s driving a vehicle the natural reaction is to either slow down or stop,” giving soldiers that extra moment they need. Scientists are experimenting with the color, power and timing of flashes to make the laser a safe — as well as effective — universal stop sign.
Special thanks to the National Defense Education Program for providing this insider’s view of every day work undertaken by Defense Department scientists and engineers. For more awesome science, check out the LabTV website, or visit Lab TV on Facebook and Twitter!
