Laser fence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
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]
Agricultural usage
Lasers are used to keep birds from eating blueberries by being perceived as a predator.[8] The European Commission is funding research into a laser fence to scare away rats and other pests.[9][10][11]
Border fences
The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has implemented a laser wall system—called LASER Wall—along some parts of its border to stop intrusion.[12]
In fiction
Films
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.[13]
Videogames
Laser walls appear frequently in videogames.[14][15][16] The concepts of these fictional fences can be compared to other concepts like tractor or repulsor beams and force fields.
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution has laser grids which the player can remotely hack with the Remote Hacking augmentation.[5]
- Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine has a hacker class which use viruses to shut down lasers.[6]
- Portal 2, with laser barriers as obstacles[17]
- Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time[7]
- Titanfall 2 has laser fields to prevent access to areas.[18]