A laser fence or laser wall is a mechanism to detect objects passing the line of sight between the laser source and the detector.[1][2] Stronger lasers can be used to injure entities passing the laser beam.[3] In fiction, laser fences may have the ability to stop intruders by blocking or injuring them.

Description

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A laser fence mechanism detects objects passing the line of sight between a laser source and detector.[1] Stronger lasers can be used to injure entities passing the laser beam, as in a mosquito laser.[3] Fictional uses of laser fences often extend the concept so that fences may have the ability to prevent intruders by blocking or injuring them.[4][5][6][7][8]

Agricultural usage

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Lasers are used to keep birds from eating blueberries by being perceived as a predator.[9] The European Commission is funding research into a laser fence to scare away rats and other pests.[10][11][12]

Border fences

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The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has implemented a laser wall system—called LASER Wall—along some parts of its border to stop intrusion.[13]

In fiction

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Films

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In the 1992 film Fortress, prisoners are kept secured by laser walls.[4] In the 1995 film Congo, a laser fence is used as part of other high-tech equipment to defend a camp against vicious gorillas.[14]

Videogames

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Laser walls appear frequently in videogames.[15][16][17] The concepts of these fictional fences can be compared to other concepts like tractor or repulsor beams and force fields.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Steele, Richard K; Roudabush, Douglas E (23 July 1974). "Laser fence" – via United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  2. ^ Thomas Petruzzellis (1994). The Alarm, Sensor & Security Circuit Cookbook. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-8306-4314-1.
  3. ^ a b Guth, Robert A (2009). "Rocket Scientists Shoot Down Mosquitoes With Lasers". The Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (4 September 1993). "Review/Film; A Futuristic Prison That Demands Escape". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b Ingenito, Vince (19 August 2016). "Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Review".
  6. ^ a b "Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine (Game) - Giant Bomb". Giant Bomb.
  7. ^ a b "Short Supply - Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time Wiki Guide - IGN". IGN.
  8. ^ a b "Combining tower defense with a shooter - game design implications". 16 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Laser bird deterrent increases crop revenue by 33%". www.laserfocusworld.com. 26 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Laser fence aims to protect crops from rats and other pests". www.laserfocusworld.com. 28 October 2016.
  11. ^ "LASER RAT FENCE wins €1.7m European Commission funds". The Register.
  12. ^ Bapat, Varsha; Kale, Prasad; Shinde, Vijaykumar; Deshpande, Neha; Shaligram, Arvind (2017). "WSN application for crop protection to divert animal intrusions in the agricultural land". Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 133: 88–96. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2016.12.007. ISSN 0168-1699.
  13. ^ "'Laser walls' activated along India-Pakistan border to plug gaps in vigil - Times of India". The Times of India. 28 April 2016.
  14. ^ Toorek, Derick (20 August 2018). Congo (1995) - shootout scene in the woods (Videotape) – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Rudolf Kremers (21 October 2009). Level Design: Concept, Theory, and Practice. CRC Press. pp. 362–. ISBN 978-1-4398-7695-4.
  16. ^ "Laser Fence (Object) - Giant Bomb". Giant Bomb.
  17. ^ Hayley Camille; James Floyd Kelly (16 October 2015). The Ultimate Player's Guide to Skylanders Trap Team (Unofficial Guide). Pearson Education. pp. 8–. ISBN 978-0-13-421619-5.
  18. ^ "Chapter 8: Test Chamber 12 - Portal 2 Walkthrough". www.thonky.com. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  19. ^ Hamilton, Kirk. "The Mission That Proved Titanfall 2 Was Something Special". Kotaku. Retrieved 11 May 2018.