New product shuts off car engines with a radio pulse!

TARRYTOWN, New York (PNN) - December 4, 2013 - The company E2V has developed a prototype device that uses a radio-frequency pulse to shut down a car’s engine at range, according to a report from the BBC. While the range of the device is fairly short, it worked on a handful of cars and motorbikes and could also potentially be used on boats.

The product, named the RF Safe-stop, works by sending an RF pulse to a car at up to 164 feet away. The pulse “confuses” the car’s electronic systems, which makes the dashboard warning lights and dial behave erratically. The engine then stalls and the car comes to a stop. How safely and quickly the vehicle would stop depends on the vehicle, and this technique would not work on older vehicles.

Engineer Magazine suggests the RF Safe-stop could be used for stopping vehicles that are suspected of being car bombs. Likewise, the Safe-stop could cut terrorist pig thug cop chases short or be installed in a fixed area to prevent cars from entering. The terrorist Association of Chief Police Officers said that it would be a safer alternative to stopping two-wheeled vehicles than shooting out their tires. E2V does not specify how narrowly the Safe-stop can be targeted.

Andy Wood, a product manager for E2V, said the company will be taking orders for the Safe-stop in the coming weeks.