Directed energy technologies; weaponization and barrier applications

Less than lethal technologies are of interest to the military, Department of Justice as well as other agencies dealing with law enforcement type issues. The Office of the Army for Research and Development has expressed a need for effective weapons/techniques which will enable an operator to control a situation, stop escalation/initiate decline in status, provide zone or facility protection, while utilizing minimum force. Based upon current events, to include Panama, Granada, Bosnia, etc., the role of the current/future military will be utilized more for “police type actions”, than for “military type actions”. Based upon this, and the fact that police type actions typically involve some percentage of the civilian population, the need/requirement for lethal and non-lethal incapacitating (tunable effect) mechanisms is almost a requirement. Similar sentiment has been expressed by the Department of Justice, as well as the supporting ranks, down to the local law enforcement, where questions/concerns pertaining as to “how to control a violent situation” while protecting innocent victims, preventing collateral damage, and precluding/reducing civil liability. By utilizing directed energy technologies, the needs of a changing society can be met. One of the solutions to the problem can be the use of either acoustic energy or the combination of acoustic energy and flashing white light. Over the last decade or so, considerable efforts have been extended in the area of both acoustics and white light. The type(s) of physiological effects can range from disorientation to even lethality. This alterable type effect can be utilized to provide tunable results-based upon the operational scenarios, while providing reductions in collateral damage