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Sounds like the Marines want a ray gun of their own;
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The goal of the EPIC project is to ultimately provide military and law enforcement personnel a non-destructive, stand-off weapon that can render a human powerless to effectively resist arrest or subjugation. The initial requirements of the topic, specified by DoD SBIR solicitation topic No. N03-163, were the following:
1. Device must reduce an individual’s will and/or ability to take aggressive action and resist physical restraint.
2. No physical contact between the weapon and the target.
3. Weapon must be directional and not affect the operator.
4. Reduction of mental and/or physical abilities must last for a sufficient time for restraints to be installed.
5. Device must operate through walls of conventional construction.
6. Device may not cause any permanent physiological or psychological damage to the human target.
7. No gas discharge devices may be considered.
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TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The Electromagnetic Personnel Interdiction Control (EPIC) Phase 2 program proposes the revolutionary concept of using electromagnetic waves to interfere with the vestibular system function (sense of balance) by creating disorienting input to the brain. It is hypothesized that the resulting brain reaction will render a human inoperable for the duration of the stimulus, and possibly for a short time thereafter. The system would thereby provide an improved capability to subdue and restrain adversaries in a non-lethal manner while reducing the risk to the warfighter.
The EPIC effect is assumed to last for some period of time after the stimulus is removed, just as motion sickness does not immediately subside after the vehicle stops moving. Due to the nature of the carrier frequency, it will be effective through traditional walls, although not if the walls are shielded. Health effects for the EPIC stimulus are not known, but are anticipated to be minimal.
CURRENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT
Through the Phase II project, the feasibility of affecting the vestibular system function through electromagnetic waves will hopefully be verified. Significant effort has been focused on modeling the vestibular system physical properties in order to be able to determine the potential effect of various electromagnetic waveforms. Test circuitry capable of generating a potentially viable waveform has been produced and tested. Animal and live tissue testing to determine effectiveness is currently underway.
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The goal of the EPIC project is to ultimately provide military and law enforcement personnel a non-destructive, stand-off weapon that can render a human powerless to effectively resist arrest or subjugation. The initial requirements of the topic, specified by DoD SBIR solicitation topic No. N03-163, were the following:
1. Device must reduce an individual’s will and/or ability to take aggressive action and resist physical restraint.
2. No physical contact between the weapon and the target.
3. Weapon must be directional and not affect the operator.
4. Reduction of mental and/or physical abilities must last for a sufficient time for restraints to be installed.
5. Device must operate through walls of conventional construction.
6. Device may not cause any permanent physiological or psychological damage to the human target.
7. No gas discharge devices may be considered.
>
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The Electromagnetic Personnel Interdiction Control (EPIC) Phase 2 program proposes the revolutionary concept of using electromagnetic waves to interfere with the vestibular system function (sense of balance) by creating disorienting input to the brain. It is hypothesized that the resulting brain reaction will render a human inoperable for the duration of the stimulus, and possibly for a short time thereafter. The system would thereby provide an improved capability to subdue and restrain adversaries in a non-lethal manner while reducing the risk to the warfighter.
The EPIC effect is assumed to last for some period of time after the stimulus is removed, just as motion sickness does not immediately subside after the vehicle stops moving. Due to the nature of the carrier frequency, it will be effective through traditional walls, although not if the walls are shielded. Health effects for the EPIC stimulus are not known, but are anticipated to be minimal.
CURRENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT
Through the Phase II project, the feasibility of affecting the vestibular system function through electromagnetic waves will hopefully be verified. Significant effort has been focused on modeling the vestibular system physical properties in order to be able to determine the potential effect of various electromagnetic waveforms. Test circuitry capable of generating a potentially viable waveform has been produced and tested. Animal and live tissue testing to determine effectiveness is currently underway.
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