Wireless Signal Used For Radar?

You are well aware that your wireless router is used to help you broadcast your internet connection throughout your home or place of business.  But, did you also know that the same wireless router can be used much like sonar to detect whereabouts of persons within your home or place of business?  Neither did we!

British engineers from University College London have recently devised a way to use wireless signals from wireless routers as a passive radar system.  The system simply requires a computer about the size of a suitcase with two antennae and a wireless router that is broadcasting the wireless signal.

1. Suspect, 2. Wireless Router, 3. Antennae, 4. Antennae, 5. Signal processing unit

The radio waves emitted by the wireless router are altered when they come into contact with a moving object.  Therefore, this passive radar is able to detect a person's location, speed and moving direction through a brick wall up to a foot thick.  Unfortunately, one can easily thwart this passive radar system by simply being still.  Without movement, the radio waves are not altered and will not alert anyone of your location.

Karl Woodbridge and Kevin Chetty, the creators of this new technology, are hoping that they will be able to fine tune this technology to the point that it will be able to recognize the movement of your rib cage that occurs naturally as you breathe in and out.

Although there are some possible commercial grade aspects to this technology, such as a whole home radar to be aware of what young children are doing when you leave the room, the majority of applications for this technology are focused around military and law enforcement applications.

To learn more about this developing technology, check out the following video:

The Claymore Mine of Tasers

This new product by TASER was actually brought to my attention by a police member, and although it might be deemed as overkill for some, it definitely has its place where it will be useful!

This new product is called the TASER Shockwave.  It is essentially a claymore mine of TASERs.  The TASER Shockwave perimeter control system is the first generation of new TASER Remote Area Denial™ (TRAD) technology allowing for both increased safety and stand-off capability during hostile situations through the innovative use of TASER International's field-proven Neuro Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) technology.

• Stackable, easy to set up platform for Less Lethal perimeter control
• TASER Shockwave controls a door entrance or other target zone
• The TASER Shockwave can be mounted to the front of police or military vehicle 
• The TASER shockwave is remote controlled, allowing officers to utilize the product away from danger
• Multiple Unit Configuration - The Shockwave ECD can be arranged in vertical and horizontal configurations with up to 12 units on a single control box, allowing up to three salvos.
• Versatile Mounting System - The TASER Shockwave can be mounted on a variety of objects, such as vehicles, or fencing.
• Unit Payload - Each single TASER Shockwave unit has a payload of six TASER cartridges, allowing for multiple person incapacitation through Area Denial.
• Self-Supporting Leg System - The TASER Shockwave system can be deployed in virtually any terrain.
• Manual Sighting System - Ensures user accuracy.
• Vehicle Mountable - The Shockwave ECD's versatile mounting system gives it the ability to be fully mounted to vehicles for various situational control.
• Arcing Six Shot - Each single TASER Shockwave unit has a payload of six TASER cartridges, allowing for multiple person incapacitation through Area Denial.
• All Terrain Setup - The TASER Shockwave system can be deployed in virtually any terrain.

Company Spotlight: PepperBall Technologies

PepperBall Technologies was originally formed in 1996 as an engineering group of Jaycor (a defense contractor).  From the beginning they specialized in the development of guidelines for the employment of non-lethal technology in operations other than war.  In their efforts to develop a non-lethal weapon alternative for governmental agencies, they developed PepperBall.

Pepperball is manufactured and distributed as a less-than-lethal weapon for military, government, law enforcement, corrections, private security and consumer markets.  Major users include such agencies as the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the US Border Patrol, and thousands of police and sheriff departments in major US cities.  They are the most widely recognized name brand and largest supplier of non-lethal PAVA-based launchers and projectiles.


PepperBall products include a full line of system launchers and projectiles for a variety of less-lethal applications. These systems allow military, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, security guards and other agencies to use a less-lethal approach to incapacitate individuals, disperse crowds or just simply gain compliance. For consumers, PepperBall offers several personal defense systems for your personal protection and to protect your family when safety is threatened. With over 15 million PepperBalls sold, PepperBall personal defense systems have been proven to be highly effective and safe with no reported serious injuries.

Company Spotlight: First Line Technology (PhaseCore)

Generally we only stop to think about dealing with excessive heat in the summer, when it is hot and we are suffering through the brutal heat.  The weather is getting cooler/colder so it is probably far from your mind, but take a minute to check out this amazing product to help product yourself (and your department) when summer comes back around in a few months.

The normal human body's skin temperature is approximately 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the comfort zone being between 82.4 and 100.0 degrees.  When the skin temperature rises above 100.0 degree Fahrenheit, the body becomes susceptible to heat-related illnesses.  This rise in temperature can happen when working in hot environments, during physical activity, and when wearing protective clothing.  First Line Technology has released a line of products called PhaseCore, which are aimed at helping the body to cool and maintain its normal temperature in hot environments by absorbing the body heat.  By absorbing the heat in your skin, PhaseCore offers a cooling effect which is very different from alternative cooling methods.  Alternative methods such as ice, gel, and other frozen liquids can over cool or shock the body, which can constrict blood flow causing physical discomfort and mobile restriction.

Tests completed in a hot environment have proven that PhaseCore technology is effective in helping to combat the rise in a person’s body surface temperature when in a hot environment. PhaseCore Cooling Vests are effective for three to four hours, actual time varies based on physical activity, body type, and the environmental conditions.  PhaseCore Cooling Vests can be recharged by storing the PhaseCore elements in an environment less than the activation point, such as room temperature. PhaseCore elements can be recharged more quickly in colder environments. Refrigeration is not required, but will make the recharge period shorter. PhaseCore elements are completely recharged when they return to a solid state. PhaseCore is simple, safe, and reusable.

PhaseCore cooling vests are recommended for first responders, fire fighters, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and industrial works.  There are multiple styles of vests available, including a flame retardant CarbonX vest that is safe for use by structural fire fighters.