Laser tracking system to be fitted to Police helicopters

[greenalien]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7990013.stm

As far as I'm concerned, the sooner idiots who misuse laser pointers are jailed, the better - and it looks like the UK law is going to be changed to make this easier, along with better technology to identify offenders.

(Just remember to phone the CAA before operating any laser equipment outdoors, or you may get an unwanted prosecution!)

[Agent C]

Will it be a phase conjugate laser tracking system? That would be awesome.

[buffo]

"A big mirror - needs a big beam."

Project Crossbow anyone?

Adam

[White-Light]

To be honest you have to laugh at these idiots trying to blind pilots with low mw visible light from a laser pen. As if the divergence from that distance would deliver anything more than a mere distraction and the light just leaves a trail back to them.

So far as I'm concerned they get what they deserve. They give everyone a bad name and the faster they get caught the better. Maybe their punishment should be to spend some time staring down a class 4 laser without eye protection. Nothing focuses the mind more than being blind!

I just hope the new law takes into account accidental shining from outdoor entertainment lasers.

[Doc]

You'd have to hope that they do aim to catch people actually targeting and attacking aircraft, rather than somebody star pointing.

[lamborgini8]

To be honest you have to laugh at these idiots trying to blind pilots with low mw visible light from a laser pen. As if the divergence from that distance would deliver anything more than a mere distraction and the light just leaves a trail back to them.

So far as I'm concerned they get what they deserve. They give everyone a bad name and the faster they get caught the better. Maybe their punishment should be to spend some time staring down a class 4 laser without eye protection. Nothing focuses the mind more than being blind!

I just hope the new law takes into account accidental shining from outdoor entertainment lasers.

Agreed, I am fed up with it and as usual its the minority ruining it for the majority. I think that if the target aircraft is a police helicopter then they should not only use this new tracking thing but fire their spot lights in the direction of the laser, that way the immature fool knows hes been spotted and so does the rest of the street plus they probally wont be pointing their lasers much longer after they have had a spot light shined directly at them.

As for entertainment lasers, I am hoping if the worst case scenario happens and pointers are banned that they do similar to eBay and continue selling lab style modules.