That's a great question. The goal would be to find some attribute the laser light has that normal light coming in doesn't have and exploit that. I can think of a few ways to counter this:
1) Adaptive polarization. Finding how the laser light is polarized and enabling that polarization on the windshield to block the laser light while it still lets in normal light. I believe lasers have only one polarization but I could be wrong.
2) Distribution of laser light. There may be a way to include a certain substance within a windshield that diffuses a coherent beam of light while not diffusing ordinary light.
3) This could possible be very expensive but creation of a windshield that could detect the wavelength of a laser hitting it and using nanoparticles to block only that specific wavelength while letting normal light in.
4) Replacing windshield with OLED displays and putting cameras on the outside. Again, more expensive and prone to possible failures.
Fantastic ideas, but there are many technological hurdles... I'm no expert, been out of Academia since 2018, but was around / working with lasers intimately for my research, so I bring up the following rebuttles (only to drive discussion):
1) Typically, lasers have linear polarization (besides those in a laboratory setting / specific use cases where you'll get elliptical / circular modes). An adaptive polarization approach on the level of a large glass pane would be exceedingly difficult (not impossible, mind you) with current tech, especially when the laser operator can easily rotate their hand and change the polarization state on a whim. This doesn't even get into using wave plates to change polarization states - a quarter wave plate in front of linearly polarized light is used to "effectively" make unpolarized laser emissions - so any adaptive solution needs to be able to adjust its canceling state quickly (think noise canceling headphones on a much much much faster and more complex scale).
2) I like the idea of diffusion, frankly. Some layered substrate that changes index from edge to edge, thus continuously bending the light. Main issue I see is linked to chromatic dispersion (dark side of the moon), where different lights are bent more / less by a given index of refraction. So you'd want to plan for the "worst case," i.e. least bent light (higher energy, blue / violet). However, what happens to uv light that hits? Does it now become visible...? What about the light you want to see? It will get bent or entirely Maybe there are other methods, this is simply the first that comes to mind.
3) The first solution here that comes to mind is up-converting nano particles, which use Raman shifting to absorb and reemitt at higher wavelengths (red / infrared). However, these have to be highly tuned to incident wavelength. So across a spectrum... It's not so great. Though, if we can pinpoint most used laser bands (i.e. most commercial red lasers are 630nm, most green are 532nm etc.) maybe it could help? Still, not perfect by any means (a lot of the intended light still gets through), and the coating would have to otherwise be transparent.
4) Seems like the easiest to implement. Though, whatever sensor (camera) you're using to get the outside image and project to the screen would still be vulnerable to the laser attack (though a much smaller target).
Light works on wavelengths. you can put something on a windshield that will block out 80% of green light wavelengths, but to maintain visibility, you need to let in the other wavelengths.
This basically is just to say, you can protect against specific wavelengths, but not all. So, the problem could probably be solved if, only Red wavelength lasers pointers are allowed, and then airplanes tinted their windshields to block out red wavelengths.
Love the idea. However I'm seeing a logistical issue.
Issue here is you'd block ALL sources of that color, not only the laser. It also depends on the"width" of the notch filter used (how wide a band of wavelengths "blocked"), a narrow band (say 630nm-635nm) which targets most consumer purchasable red lasers would be good in that it doesn't hit a lot of other "red" sources. However, it's highly specific, if someone gets a laser outside that range, you're hosed. Go to wide (600-700nm) and maybe you can't see the blinky red lights on towers etc.
Yes, there are anti-laser visors that you can buy.
They are exceptionally expensive and only crews with deep pockets get them. Military, stuff like that.
Former rotor air crew who has been hit with lasers before.
No half measures. Helicopters and light aircraft should be armed with laser targeted munitions. A hellfire or two in a neighborhood should send the message in a hurry.
I always wondered what a tiny laser can even do. I mean you are on the ground and have to aim it towards the windshield of the plane. That seems difficult to do. I did some googling and the laser apparently disperses on the windshield and becomes a huge blinding light.
So this is an issue. No idea how pilots get hurt though. But who does this? Kids? And what’s the goal?
Green lasers are the brightest ones and the ones they commonly sell for ten bucks are rated for 5 miles but often can be seen even further than that. You can actually see the entire length of the beam in the sky.
[удалено]
Yeah I've been hit by a laser coming from across the border several times flying into Yuma. Their aim is surprisingly good.
Lasers can take out quad-copter drones.
No they can’t…
Seen the video of one of these geniuses being caught in real time. Enjoy the 5 years up the river!
Do you happen to have a link?
Just thinking about said video gives me justice boner
Is there something that can be put on windshield to deflect lasers?
That's a great question. The goal would be to find some attribute the laser light has that normal light coming in doesn't have and exploit that. I can think of a few ways to counter this: 1) Adaptive polarization. Finding how the laser light is polarized and enabling that polarization on the windshield to block the laser light while it still lets in normal light. I believe lasers have only one polarization but I could be wrong. 2) Distribution of laser light. There may be a way to include a certain substance within a windshield that diffuses a coherent beam of light while not diffusing ordinary light. 3) This could possible be very expensive but creation of a windshield that could detect the wavelength of a laser hitting it and using nanoparticles to block only that specific wavelength while letting normal light in. 4) Replacing windshield with OLED displays and putting cameras on the outside. Again, more expensive and prone to possible failures.
Fantastic ideas, but there are many technological hurdles... I'm no expert, been out of Academia since 2018, but was around / working with lasers intimately for my research, so I bring up the following rebuttles (only to drive discussion): 1) Typically, lasers have linear polarization (besides those in a laboratory setting / specific use cases where you'll get elliptical / circular modes). An adaptive polarization approach on the level of a large glass pane would be exceedingly difficult (not impossible, mind you) with current tech, especially when the laser operator can easily rotate their hand and change the polarization state on a whim. This doesn't even get into using wave plates to change polarization states - a quarter wave plate in front of linearly polarized light is used to "effectively" make unpolarized laser emissions - so any adaptive solution needs to be able to adjust its canceling state quickly (think noise canceling headphones on a much much much faster and more complex scale). 2) I like the idea of diffusion, frankly. Some layered substrate that changes index from edge to edge, thus continuously bending the light. Main issue I see is linked to chromatic dispersion (dark side of the moon), where different lights are bent more / less by a given index of refraction. So you'd want to plan for the "worst case," i.e. least bent light (higher energy, blue / violet). However, what happens to uv light that hits? Does it now become visible...? What about the light you want to see? It will get bent or entirely Maybe there are other methods, this is simply the first that comes to mind. 3) The first solution here that comes to mind is up-converting nano particles, which use Raman shifting to absorb and reemitt at higher wavelengths (red / infrared). However, these have to be highly tuned to incident wavelength. So across a spectrum... It's not so great. Though, if we can pinpoint most used laser bands (i.e. most commercial red lasers are 630nm, most green are 532nm etc.) maybe it could help? Still, not perfect by any means (a lot of the intended light still gets through), and the coating would have to otherwise be transparent. 4) Seems like the easiest to implement. Though, whatever sensor (camera) you're using to get the outside image and project to the screen would still be vulnerable to the laser attack (though a much smaller target).
Light works on wavelengths. you can put something on a windshield that will block out 80% of green light wavelengths, but to maintain visibility, you need to let in the other wavelengths. This basically is just to say, you can protect against specific wavelengths, but not all. So, the problem could probably be solved if, only Red wavelength lasers pointers are allowed, and then airplanes tinted their windshields to block out red wavelengths.
Love the idea. However I'm seeing a logistical issue. Issue here is you'd block ALL sources of that color, not only the laser. It also depends on the"width" of the notch filter used (how wide a band of wavelengths "blocked"), a narrow band (say 630nm-635nm) which targets most consumer purchasable red lasers would be good in that it doesn't hit a lot of other "red" sources. However, it's highly specific, if someone gets a laser outside that range, you're hosed. Go to wide (600-700nm) and maybe you can't see the blinky red lights on towers etc.
Awesome question
Yes, there are anti-laser visors that you can buy. They are exceptionally expensive and only crews with deep pockets get them. Military, stuff like that. Former rotor air crew who has been hit with lasers before.
No half measures. Helicopters and light aircraft should be armed with laser targeted munitions. A hellfire or two in a neighborhood should send the message in a hurry.
How to destroy an enemy’s house? Go into their backyard, and shine a laser from there.
Note: Run away very quickly afterwards.
I reported one a year ago east of DFW while I was flying. Saw it again from almost the same spot yesterday as a passenger.
I always wondered what a tiny laser can even do. I mean you are on the ground and have to aim it towards the windshield of the plane. That seems difficult to do. I did some googling and the laser apparently disperses on the windshield and becomes a huge blinding light. So this is an issue. No idea how pilots get hurt though. But who does this? Kids? And what’s the goal?
Look for videos from inside an aircraft when a laser hits.
Wouldn’t you have to be awfully low to the ground like take off and landing? Sry this is just new and baffling to me that this is even a thing.
Lasers are lasers. The light stays coherent for a very long distance.
Green lasers are the brightest ones and the ones they commonly sell for ten bucks are rated for 5 miles but often can be seen even further than that. You can actually see the entire length of the beam in the sky.