Laser guns are almost here

[Onix]

That'll be great for lasers. . . as soon as we figure out how to sustain a fusion reaction.

[maledictus]

A handy infographic:

[Onix]

Northrup Grummand is developing a new laser system. on optical power, input power, weight, size and what the equipment is roughly like.

In short the system is called a slab laser. It uses 500 pound units that chain together to create a more powerful beam. Each 500 pound unit produces a 13Kw laser. The holy grail of a battlefield laser is 100Kw so a six unit system gets close and apparently this is what the system is designed to do. They show some tests of the laser on a drone's skin, not very telling since I can't imagine a drone having anything but a flimsy shell. They also said that this was at close range so, not really very useful at knowing how practical the beam would be.

Oh, and CA.

[Rob Lang]

That's cool but I still want my FLYING CAR.

[Onix]

I'm waiting for a certain cybernetics professor to deliver on my anthropomorphic automaton.

[bosky]

Lasers eh? What about Phasers! Did you guys see that (awful backronym) PHASR rifle the US is developing? Sounds like the general idea is a non-lethal blinding or dizzying weapon.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8275

Plus it looks awesome:


PS: That Northrop Grumman 100kW laser is awesome and I can't wait for them to make a rugged version.

[Onix]

[catty_big]

[Onix]

. Need I say more?

[Rob Lang]

Is this a race to put a Black Hole Laser in an epic-sized RPG?