4 ms·

Is there possibly a reflective glass for cars and planes that could help mitigate this? I found this doing a quick google https://www.laserpointersafety.com/la

by taf2 5y ago

Is there possibly a reflective glass for cars and planes that could help mitigate this? I found this doing a quick google https://www.laserpointersafety.com/laserglasses/laserglasses.html https://www.laserpointersafety.com/laserglasses/laserglasses...

aidenn0 5y ago
Sort of: laser-glases protect against specific wavelengths. This is great when you are using a laser yourself as you can just get glasses that block the wavelength of your laser. It's better than nothing for pilots, since you can block against 1 or 2 of the most common wavelengths. However if a particular wavelength were standard for protective eyewear, then an attacker would just get a different wavelength.
- p_l 5y ago
  Unfortunately it wouldn't really do anything for pilots at night. The big effect when a shitty overpowered laser pointer hits windshield is that suddenly you have huge light bloom, blinding eyes prepared to operate in darkness (because you need to see outside).
  - aidenn0 5y ago
    The light-bloom is monochromatic though. For the case of one of (pilot|copilot) wearing one of these during takeoff/landing, that should be sufficient to mitigate much of the harm, right?
_Nat_ 5y ago
First thought would be to remove the windows entirely, replacing them with computer-screens. Then those could display the outside (perhaps with augmentations/filters) from cams. Could have multiple cams, some of which might have shielding in different directions, with the screens showing a composite-image from the cams that seem to be working well. Even a poorly-designed system that accidentally shows a laser should at least not hurt the pilots, as the screens wouldn't be able to show anything brighter than white-pixels. Sorta like how someone flashing a laser-pointer in your eyes over a video-call can't actually hurt your eyes. Though a well-designed system ought to be able to maintain a pretty reliable view outside, allowing the pilots to still see outside even while they're actively being hit. Or, maybe allow the pilots to rotate the screens away to reveal windows in the event of an electrical/computer problem. But primarily as a backup -- presumably an augmented-reality display that's protected from issues like laser-attacks would be the preference when everything's working right. Or.. I guess pilots could get augmented-reality glasses/helmets with their own cameras to do the same in modern aircraft, if it's a major problem in the short-term. Perhaps not as robust in the absence of externally-mounted cameras on the plane itself, and perhaps not quite as comfortable if the glasses/helmet are bulky.
- suifbwish 5y ago
  I think a better solution would be a pure materials approach of adding window coatings or internal layers which selectively reflect/polarize most of the light from the standard laser wavelengths available to the public. An additional solution implementing electronics could be equipping all windows and possibly other areas on the craft with sensors which sound an alarm the instant any laser light is detected so that the pilots become aware of the problem before it takes its effect. Having two pilots and an autopilot also helps with this but this does nothing for most single pilot aircraft.

by taf2 5y ago

aidenn0 5y ago

Sort of: laser-glases protect against specific wavelengths. This is great when you are using a laser yourself as you can just get glasses that block the wavelength of your laser. It's better than nothing for pilots, since you can block against 1 or 2 of the most common wavelengths. However if a particular wavelength were standard for protective eyewear, then an attacker would just get a different wavelength.

p_l 5y ago
Unfortunately it wouldn't really do anything for pilots at night. The big effect when a shitty overpowered laser pointer hits windshield is that suddenly you have huge light bloom, blinding eyes prepared to operate in darkness (because you need to see outside).
- aidenn0 5y ago
  The light-bloom is monochromatic though. For the case of one of (pilot|copilot) wearing one of these during takeoff/landing, that should be sufficient to mitigate much of the harm, right?

_Nat_ 5y ago

First thought would be to remove the windows entirely, replacing them with computer-screens. Then those could display the outside (perhaps with augmentations/filters) from cams. Could have multiple cams, some of which might have shielding in different directions, with the screens showing a composite-image from the cams that seem to be working well. Even a poorly-designed system that accidentally shows a laser should at least not hurt the pilots, as the screens wouldn't be able to show anything brighter than white-pixels. Sorta like how someone flashing a laser-pointer in your eyes over a video-call can't actually hurt your eyes. Though a well-designed system ought to be able to maintain a pretty reliable view outside, allowing the pilots to still see outside even while they're actively being hit. Or, maybe allow the pilots to rotate the screens away to reveal windows in the event of an electrical/computer problem. But primarily as a backup -- presumably an augmented-reality display that's protected from issues like laser-attacks would be the preference when everything's working right. Or.. I guess pilots could get augmented-reality glasses/helmets with their own cameras to do the same in modern aircraft, if it's a major problem in the short-term. Perhaps not as robust in the absence of externally-mounted cameras on the plane itself, and perhaps not quite as comfortable if the glasses/helmet are bulky.

suifbwish 5y ago
I think a better solution would be a pure materials approach of adding window coatings or internal layers which selectively reflect/polarize most of the light from the standard laser wavelengths available to the public. An additional solution implementing electronics could be equipping all windows and possibly other areas on the craft with sensors which sound an alarm the instant any laser light is detected so that the pilots become aware of the problem before it takes its effect. Having two pilots and an autopilot also helps with this but this does nothing for most single pilot aircraft.