Pneumatic Cannons Firing GPS-Tracking Projectile Mounted on Police Vehicles
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Technology inspired by Hollywood occasionally makes the leap from the big screen into everyday life. In some cases, like the new Starchase system being tested by police in Texas, Florida and Iowa, the public would be better off if fictional technology had remained fictional.
The Starchase system is a pneumatic cannon that mounts to the grille of police cruisers and fires a sticky “bullet” that contains a GPS device. The system’s goal is to reduce the danger to police officers engaged in high-speed pursuits by allowing them to tag and track suspect vehicles at a distance.
The kinks haven’t been fully worked out of the system. In a recent demonstration for reporters, the device was fired four times at a parked vehicle with only one “bullet” sticking to the targeted vehicle. Additionally, the system costs $5,000 per unit, with individual GPS projectiles costing $500.
But what happens when a projectile misses its target? A number of high profile incidents, including last year’s shooting of nine bystanders by the NYPD at the Empire State building, demonstrate the folly of relying on police officer accuracy in high-stress situations.
Starchase might be a good gimmick for a James Bond movie, but there are real world consequences of police officers firing their forward-mounted tracking cannons in the heat of a high-speed pursuit.
