On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 19:43:05 -0500, Ignoramus26274
wrote:

On 2015-08-28, Ed Huntress wrote:
Here it is, the latest laser toy from Boeing, designed specifically to
set drones on fi

http://www.wired.com/2015/08/welcome...-laser-cannon/

It's a 2kW laser that's controlled by a standard Xbox 360 and a
laptop. Although the article doesn't say so, it's probably powered by
an off-the-shelf IPG fiber laser, like the big laser cannons that are
being deployed on US ships.

Every kid in America is going to ask for one for Christmas. g


As always, applications of this stuff are limitless. For example,
blinding tanks, setting objects on fire remotely, or even lasering
soldiers who are in the "line of sight".

An operator can be sitting safely a mile away from the weapon.

It looks like the laser beam is not in visible light, so it may not be
easy to detect and fire upon.

Fiber lasers have a wavelength of around 1,000 nm, which is infrared.

--
Ed Huntress