TASERS - Not As Dumb as you Think
A friend 'acquired' a Taser following a rumble between Plod and some miscreants - after all littering looks bad.
The later models of Taser are 'intelligent', although they can'y prevent unintelligent users from abusing them.
Pulling the trigger of a Taser gun, compressed nitrogen fires two barbed darts at 55 metres per second. Each dart is 9mm long and weighs 1.5 grams. They remain connected through two hair-thin wires. This length is supposed to penetrate clothing and the fat immediately under the skin.
Since many attempts result in clothing only contact, the custom microprocessor triggers a 45kV+ 'flash' that causes an arc and, like a lightning strike, ionizes the contact area making a more conductive path for the subsequent 'shocks'. This higher voltage is supposed to stop!
The 'sample' appears use resistance/current to determine when there is contact.
After the initial 45kV+, the output voltage drops and bursts of 1,000-1,200 volts in a square-wave of 100 microsecond pulses. He measured 19 of these bursts per second. Using only standard bench equipment the averaged 'shock' current was just under 2 milliamperes.
Notwithstanding it's 'smart' technology the 19 Hertz shocks continue so long as the trigger is squeezed. And therein lies the danger. If Plod gets his/her jollies from this, longer bursts can kill. Pity Taser Corp didn't include some sort of forced 'pause' between shots in their software.
Also, Plod is supposed to be trained to avoid the heart area as the effect can include stopping the heart.
The result 'overshocks' can be seen in < https://vimeo.com/169710819 >, < http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2515388/Family-sues-Texas-boy-17-coma-tasered-cop.html >.
Luckily there is anti-Taser clothing ("High Performance Silver Mesh Fabric" from Less EMF, Inc., Catalog #A1222), anti-Taser spray-on for clothing, or using aluminium foil! For the D-I-Y guys and girls < http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-carbon-tape-Taser-proof-jacket/?ALLSTEPS >.
Our sample can't be used again as we need nitrogen cannisters and a replacement barb head. So we are fairly safe.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
