Active Denial System

First of all, ya just gotta love the name. I've been accused of having an ongoing "active denial system" myself, but that's neither here nor there. This is an interesting look at our tax dollars at work. . .

Active Denial Technology uses a transmitter producing energy at a frequency of 95Ghz and an antenna to direct a focused, invisible beam towards a designated subject. Traveling at the speed of light, the energy reaches the subject and penetrates the skin to a depth of less than 1/64 of an inch. Almost instantaneously it produces a heating sensation that within seconds becomes intolerable and forces the subject to flee. The sensation immediately ceases when the individual moves out of the beam or when the system operator turns it off.

Despite this sensation, the beam does not cause injury because of the shallow penetration depth of energy at this wavelength and the low energy levels used. It exploits the bodyÅfs natural defense mechanism that induces pain as a warning to help protect it from injury.

Bullcrap! It's a goddamn microwave death ray, I'd say. If the target can't move out of the way, eventually he gets 3rd degree burns and we don't wanna even think about what it might do to someone's retina. Still, it's an interesting concept even if it's currently bigger than an SUV. I can't imagine what practical application it has but I'm sure somebody will think of something.