How To Build Your Own Vomit Gun for $250

By John Farrier in Science & Tech, Video Clips, Weapons & War on Oct 2, 2009 at 9:06 am

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security developed a ‘dazzler’ — a non-lethal weapon which uses flashing lights to distrupt a target’s equilibrium. A person effected by lights for long enough, will temporarily lose visual acuity, balance, and become nauseous. The government spend about $1 million on the project. Limor Fried, a MIT-educated engineer, decided that she could build one for a lot less money. She’s made her design schematics and source code available for free online. Below is a video of the results of her work.

(Video Link)

Link via io9 | Fried’ s Bio | Image: AdaFruit Industries

Tags: AdaFruit, Bedazzler, Dazzler, Limor Fried, non-lethal weapons

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Dude
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
I plan on installing two of these as tail lights on my truck for deterring tailgaters.
FishBottleT
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
It would definatly be usefull against tose annoying drivers. I may invest in one for all kinds of fun.
secret asian man
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
Nauseated.

Nauseated!
Gauldar
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Will future wars be fought with these? Will human kind adopt the saying “We won’t stop until they are drowning in their own…” you get the idea.

On a serious note, should these be used to stop rioters, but who is to blame when someone with epilepsy chokes to death on their tongue due to one of these being flashed in their face? Other then this issue… yay science!
Flux
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I’m not sure if I want to open the vid… its not going to show the device in use, is it?
(I’m one of those people that can get vertigo and sick just watching a video of a rollercoaster ride. -_-)
PAgent
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Two comments:

Yes, you can certainly recreate a device a lot more cheaply if someone else has done all the research, development, and optimization for you. Instead of using their patent, start from scratch and see how long it takes you.

And speaking of patents, the nice lady has basically admitted she copied the device out of someone’s issued (and presumably enforceable patent). Depending on what the granted claims cover, I imagine it would be VERY hard for her to avoid a finding of willful infringement. Oh, and potentially contributory infringement, since she’s encouraging others to do the same.
Skipweasel
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
PAgent. I thought patents only covered against commercial exploitation. She’s not selling it, just making one for her own use.
Alex
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Ya, what PAgent said. It’s not fair to compare production cost to development cost.
Jason330
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
That Bush era Homeland security guy was a piece.
ted
Oct 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
People are not effected by lights. People are effected, or brought about, in an entirely different matter, known in scientific communities as intercourse.
Hoople
Oct 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Secret Asian Man and Ted are both correct. Attaboy, guys.
bradbury
Oct 4th, 2009 at 5:26 am
A video of a vomit gun without someone even being green in the face is simply unsatisfying.

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