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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Laser Pulse Speed Enforcing
Message-ID: <843@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 08:45:16 EST
Article-I.D.: kitty.843
Posted: Tue Feb 25 08:45:16 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 04:03:09 EST
References: <378@ur-tut.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 32
Summary: Yes, it's true, laser ranging will replace radar

In article <378@ur-tut.UUCP>, junk@ur-tut.UUCP (Jan Vandenbrande) writes:
> 	Is it true that "Laser Pulse" devices are being used to measure
> 	vehicle's speed for speed  enforcement purposes?
> 	Instead of using radar frequencies, a laser pulse reflected from
> 	the car is used. Naturally, a radar detector will not pick up such a
> 	laser pulse.
> 	Has anybody heard of such a rumor before? Or has anybody heard of
> 	speed enforcement methods other than the ones in use now?
> 	(NB. supposedly it's an infrared laser beam)

	Yes, it's true.  About a year ago, I saw an engineering prototype of
such a device, which uses an infrared injection laser diode as the light
source.  In addition, there was an optical sight (with cross-hairs, :-) )
which ALSO had a beam splitter connected to a CCD array video camera - the
intention being to record the offending vehicle on videotape for evidentiary
purposes.  The electronics in the unit provided a superimposed time/date
display along with speed AND RANGE for the video recorder.
	The princples of low-power laser ranging have been well-developed over
the last ten years for use in surveying instruments.  The use of such designs
for speed measurement purposes is almost trivial.  The only stumbling block for
law enforcement use has been to develop a unit low enough in cost; to be
competitive with radar (it will still cost more, though), such a laser unit
must cost << $ 5K.  A target price for a unit without the video camera is
around $ 2K.
	I can't wait to see the reaction of the general public...

==>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York        <==
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