Since the early part of last year, U.S. soldiers and marines have been experimenting with a series of sonic blasters in Iraq. The Long Range Acoustic Devices, or “LRADs,” can broadcast messages hundreds of yards away — or be ear-splittingly loud at close range. The New York Police Department also had the devices at the ready during the Republican National Convention, although it’s unclear whether the LRADs were actually used or not.
Last week, the L.A. Sheriff’s Department tested out an acoustic transmitter that makes earlier models look like “childrens’ toys” in comparison, LASD Commander Sid Heal, a world-renowned expert in non-lethal weaponry, tells Defense Tech.
On Thursday, August 4th, we put the magnetic acoustic device (I’m not sure it has a name yet, so this one will have to do for now) to the test on one of our ranges… Using a variety of sounds from human voice to music to sound effects (screams, shouts, gunfire, sirens, and the like), we succeeded in listening to the sounds from the transmitter located one statue mile in the distance!
Admittedly, this was a crude proof of concept test. But the device met and exceeded our expectations. There was nearly no distortion. In fact, at one statute mile, we clearly listened to a Frank Sinatra record and could understand the words, hear the intonations and pitch, and even the background music! Other sounds, especially those in the higher frequency ranges like sirens and screams, were easily detected even over the noise from the 5 Freeway a short distance away.
The edge of the energy path was clearly discernible and you could easily detect when you were standing in it and not, even at one mile. In fact, near the end of the test a wind gusting up to 20 knots blew across our line of sight and we had to adjust for the wind to remain in the energy path.
This device far exceeds anything I’m aware of. Others are childrens’ toys compared with this thing. The developer tells us that there are other configurations they believe will allow it to take even more energy. They estimated we were using 15,000 watts, but with a different type of magnet they believe we they can easily exceed 100,000 watts without overheating.
Further, by rearranging the orientation of the magnetic speakers, they can increase or decrease the width of the lobe, as well as decrease the size, weight and power. The device we tested is “full range;” that is, it provided clear sound from about 50 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. But if we were going to use it just for human voice or a siren, or some other specific frequency range, they can also “tune it” to provide maximum effectiveness for a specific frequency range and reduce the size and power, while increasing the range.
We are currently scheduling a full-blown demonstration in September… We’ll keep you in the loop and notify you of the particulars of the demo when we have them.
Sounds good, Sid. Uh, I think.
THERE’S MORE: “I saw LRADs in the Gulf,” says Kevin, commenting at Ace of Spades HQ. “Basically, we hooked them to an iPod or similar mp3 player and sent out warnings in Arabic. Pretty slick. About the size of a stop sign, but only 6 inches. Definitely don’t want to try hand-holding it though. One little sneeze and your buddy could be deaf.”
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
This would be great for use at large open music concerts at stadiums in built up areas!
I notice he doesn’t mention crowd control, only delivering “voice or a siren” sounds. Well, that and Frank Sinatra songs.
That’s just great. 100,000 Watts. This does nothing to determine the actual kinetic force being generated. I’m waiting to see when they’ll apply enough energy to the cone to create unintentional shock waves.
Brown notes are for pansies.
Shock waves cannot be generated by this device.
Check the definition. It’s a physics thing.
I wonder if the volume goes to 11?
Think of the mind games you could play against a progressing division? They could hear explosions, jets, and even screams. All without firing a single munition.
I’m working on the noise reduction headphones for this – sent me your foam peanuts
“magnetic acoustic device (I’m not sure it has a name yet, so this one will have to do for now)”
How about weirding module…
This is kinda like what they used at the Deep Purple California Jam concert circa 1972…
This is kinda like what they used in the middle of the desert on Kakrafoon:
http://matt.injustice.net.nz/guide/book2/b2c22.php
“magnetic acoustic device (I’m not sure it has a name yet, so this one will have to do for now)”
I was at a magnetic acoustic device convention once and I overheard a conversation in which these were referred to as “speakers”. Maybe we could use that.
Seriously though, is it based on the same principle or is some other method of sound reproduction occuring? The picture is too small to tell, so can someone clarify?
The Guiness Book of Records listed The Who as the “World’s loudest pop group,” with a 120 decibel reading — the same as a jet airplane taking off — which took place at the Charlton Athletic Football Club in 1976.
Isn’t there an upper limit to how loud a sound can be? You know, acoustic “clipping”, where the rarefactions approach vacuity? I believe that the Saturn V rocket achieved this limit, back in the 60′s. It certainly broke windows at Huntsville High School when tested, miles away.
There is: Its around 190 Db if I remember correctly…
It’s only a matter of time until the kid down the street has it mounted in his trunk next to his sub-woofer.
What kind of db can this bad boy produce?
ps. 120 db is not very loud. A lot of people are currently getting 160+db in their cars!
Neat toy in concept, but in referencing the LAPD, given it’s reputation in the past for excessive use of force, I am forced to admit I ahve greater comfort thinking of it’s use in Iraq than in LA.
Oh, come on! The LAPD’s reputation for excessive force!? It only has that because it is one of the largest and most publicized departments in not only America, but the world. Are you saying that the citizens of LA do not deserve a new tool for their police and that the insurgents in Iraq do? ….you make no sense.
Every Dept. will ahve a reputation for excessive force if only you heard about the incidents as much as LA’s.
bah…I’m stopping now. Wasting my time.
…or..wrap two ferrets in chicken wire (loosely), place them in a paint can shaker, turn it on, and hook the mic up to that bitch! Same smell, different dog.
Wonder if it can do Sub-sonics? You know, that wonderful range of sound that we can’t truly hear, but gives you the world’s worst case of the Wiggins. Think of this device hooked up to such a generator and causing a mile deep path of wiss-in-your-pants fear. Or, we could go primative and broadcast nails on a chalkboard.
I do have a recording of Alvin and the Chipmonks doing “The Timewarp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show, or does that violate the Geneva Conventions (or just the laws of physics)?
I like Ricky’s idea to call this device a “speaker.” Since this device is very loud, perhaps it could be called a “loudspeaker.”
If I had the chance I would yell one word into the mic,
“Maud’dib”
The LRAD is made by American Technologies Inc, ATCO on the nasdaq, and they hold 140 patents. Their LRAD is being used in Iraq, warning systems on ships and being look at by police for crowd control.
Well, first off that particular song enrages any sane individual, AND you’re talking about Guns & Roses fans who are ALSO from St. Louis – lethal! Sinatra’s mellow croon is perfect for crowd control playing out its karma from the screaming bobby-soxers of the 40′s.
Dubya has plans to install one of these at key Democratic polling places. So when those crazy evolution believing liberals line up to vote, they will all shit their pants before they get to pull the lever.
“Wonder if it can do Sub-sonics?”
I doubt it at long range.
What we have here appears to be an acoustic phased array. The aperture would need to be MUCH larger to propagate something at say 10 Hz, which has a wavelength of ~ 35 m, over a long distance.
And judging by the spacing of the elements, I expect there would be a dropoff in propagation performance at high frequency too, say towards 20 kHz.
If this thing can hear at a mile 5280 feet give or take and this being a police state anyone can figure out what they are going to do with
Just sit back a mile away from your house and hear every word you say BEWARE
When can i get one? how long before this technologie is made available to joe public?
este texto prova o quanto os americanos so um bando de neurcticos, noiados e mans!!! fora os americanos!!! algu m podia decretar o fim dos estados unidos, assim o mundo ficaria menois gordo e menos neurtico!!!
bando de malucos, enlouquecidos!!!
..wrap two ferrets in chicken wire
A prototype for Mother Hitton’s Littul Kittuns
Now if you could just get it into a Chevy, every Mexican in California could play salsa music -REAL LOUD!
A description of early versions for this toy has been available for about 6 to 10 years now. The present version probably has that much more tech and computing power built in. And finer control, a dial that says Target : Dog / Wabbit / Coyote… for example.
The stuff I read about operates on beat frequency (and maybe, by now, some know-how regarding soliton-like thingies). So, theoretically, you can get anything from sub-sub-sonics to very-very-very-high frequencies at the delivery point.
With enough savvy, the freqs might even be induce at the delivery point – without having to trouble about actually generating (and controlling) them at the buisness end of the device (and its surroundings).
That means that can get all sorts of cool effects at the receiving end. Like “microwave coooking” with sound a mile off. Or, shaking large structures to bits (some French guy did it in the 1940′s/50′s – using German designs), but reflection and “blowback” were too much of a problem. Not that much of a problem anymore, maybe.
How big a building do you tthink *could* be brought down with a (totally theoretical – of course) version of this little toy ?). What might it look like ? Would concrete and cement sort of puf up into powder – or vaporize – instead of crumbling ???
Well, just be on thge lookout for buildings wrapped in foam mattresses. Or…
;-)
K’Kao
why always a worst,more lethal,better maiming,gun..now an ear gun… never a cure for cancer or heart disease instead of another bizarre weapon?why,why,why who raises these people, where do all the weapon makers come from? what kind of person grows up to be a maker of tools to destroy other people?
I can see it now.All the neocons and their talking head pundits blabbing on and on about the bleeding heart liberals worrying about people they dont even know and are’nt even related too.They don’t listen so why should they have a right to hear? Look what happened to Rush the last time he played with his “loud speaker”.
kat, I would assume that your husband is one of those who grew up like that, but only after having to listen to you through your first year of marriage. Maybe we could broadcast people laughing over the thing… or someone farting. Nothing better than a REALLY loud fart out of nowhere. NO! SOMEONE SUCKING JELLO THROUGH A STRAW! Now that’s some good stuff.
Good question.
These are just ordinary people “doing their job” of designing things for a salary. So how do people get to a stage where they never take responsibility for their actions and instead say “I am just doing my job”? Who teaches people to be able to simultaneously hold the idea “nazis were bad” and “it’s OK to make this ear-splitting weapon for ‘public safety’”?
I guess my answer would be school. People learn all sorts of things in school, like how not to think about anything and how to stay out of trouble. The smart ones remember what happened to the not-so-smart ones who did not toe the line and were jumped on, not only by the powers that be, but by their fellow schoolmates.
Maybe parents should take more responsibility to teach their kids how to be human, but they must be careful. The state comes down hard on evil homeschoolers who “abuse” their children by straying too far from the accepted curriculum.
I’m just sayin’
Kat sez: “who raises these people, where do all the weapon makers come from? what kind of person grows up to be a maker of tools to destroy other people?”
Good way to end the war. Make them think God is speaking to them and for them to give up.
15,000Watts – geez, I’d hate to drag a generator around with me, that’s like 125amps at 120VAC. This garage built prototype doesn’t sound very portable or efficient.
I’m not so sure we should make them think they are hearing god. The problem with most technology is that is all starts in militay application. “War makes for progress”. A great deal of our present tools of the trade, and common convienience begn as things that were meant to be used on the field of combat.
The fact someone can hear me from a mile away is not cool. I’m quite sure a most people on here would not like the cops busting in on private parties, sessions, and conversation where certain keyphrases ” tha bomb, terrorist, conspiracy, etc..” can be routed to a server designated to listen and sort for “possible threats to national security” might pose a problem to us all.
But that won’t happen will it?
To the people that talk about them hearing you, Learn to read. This is not a listening device. Its a speaker. It does not listen to you. And if you think that there are not already listening devices that are much more refined than 1 mile range , you are sadly mistaken.
regarding the comment about shockwaves not being possible – Sonic Cannons have been used for a number of years to clear canyons of debris – the soundwaves travel along and pulverize everything in their path – quite impressive…except for the sound: it sounds like the world’s biggest loudest fart. I’ve often been amused thinking of what a sci-fi sonic-blaster gunfight would sound like.
The big question is can this device neutralize the Islamist-jihadists? Will it blow out their eardrums or do other damage.
If so, great. Give them a very loud 1 minute warning to give up. If they don’t show, blast ‘em.
When videos show up on AlJezerra, Foxnews and CNN, it won’t take long to spread the “word.”
Thet there “sonic cannon” thingy sounds like some dern goooood fun! “…it pulverizes anything (and lets add the word “EVERYTHING”) in its path…”.
Sign me the fook up please!!!!
I am working on a paper and I need as much in formatio as posiable on this topic.
Thank you!
Jose
any chance an LRAD or sonic cannon could be used to disrupt IEDs? this would solve the problem with the RF jammers that also jam our own radios making it hard to coordinate convoy movements, etc. if these sonic measures work, the insurgents would have to change tactics or better still give up trying to interfere with the will of the Iraqi people. this would allow us to get our troops out sooner rather than later… any supporters or commenters?
‘Pops’
That would be cool, Hook one of these speakers to an ipod and blast your favorite music, heck they should play gold digger by kanye west, maybe our troops can get bin ladin if they play the right song, who knows
hahaha wicked sweet!!!!!!!! now how does it work
First of all I must tell you the unit in the picture is not, repeat not, a LRAD
Here is the link:
http://www.phodio.net/index.php?page=lrad_long_range_acoustic_device_eng.html
“ON 01-01-2000 soon after midnight I was attacked by the cricket sounding Lrad at high power, The people using it were heard to say they turning it up all the way. The noise was like crickets blasting in my ears. And the sick bastard was laughing while he torchered me all night. By morning I went to the hospitol and they had me sent to a mental hospitol for 12 days of observation. They didn’t beleive I had been attacked an diagnosed me as a paranoid psycho. I was attacked for years. Thanks ATC.
Peter Any information would be appreciated.
E-mail me at TREELAW45@yahoo.com
Read Matthew Arnold’s 19th century bloody writings on culture and anarchy. Culture = the elites who have nothing to worry about and profit from their capital while sitting on their butts. They profit from disaster and from success. Anarchy = the rest of us, and the elites have long been afraid that we would realize what’s going on and get together to do something about it. Fire this sonic weapon at as, and they get us to behave like the heard of animals that they think we are. The racist, redneck, cracker, ignorant LAPD is the perfect tool.
Sound emission that loud must have effects on other objects as well – either long range or short term.
Has anyone heard about its effects on water or air? Just wondering if it could be useful in other applications. Water purification? aeration?
yes the military used this on me at the time of discharge the osi or office of special investigations threatened to have me harrassed by local law enforcement these voices in my head caused me to be listed as crazy and identified themselves as sheriffs family members association my now ex -wife thanks to this worked for the polk county sheriffs office in nov of 1992 they started this assult on my life and have not stopped to date 24 hrs year round they have damaged my hearing in both ears and burned the skin on my right wrist i reported this to the human rights people they would not even reply back and a lawyer said unless they do something otherwise he could not help me the government is out of control or the citizens in this country