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kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,746
48,572
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iPu1qkN.jpeg
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,694
35,530
136
Something doesn't feel right about that vid. I think it might be BS.
The ER L LASER is a weapon in Mech Warrior. Googling video now.

Maybe real.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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The ER L LASER is a weapon in Mech Warrior. Googling video now.
I had made a quick search, and ran across game stuff, but didn't spend the time reconciling it with the video. I didn't understand if the video was meant to show a hack that replicated the game weapon, or just some fun nonsense.

I don't really know what a very high power laser is capable of, but what those trees were doing didn't seem right. You'd have to blast through them so fast they separated without catching fire. Assuming a ridiculous power supply, is anything like that plausible with a laser that doesn't make visible light?
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
17,565
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I had made a quick search, and ran across game stuff, but didn't spend the time reconciling it with the video. I didn't understand if the video was meant to show a hack that replicated the game weapon, or just some fun nonsense.

I don't really know what a very high power laser is capable of, but what those trees were doing didn't seem right. You'd have to blast through them so fast they separated without catching fire. Assuming a ridiculous power supply, is anything like that plausible with a laser that doesn't make visible light?
Eh, probably not at that size, and/or at that distance. A laser of sufficient power can burn through basically anything, at certain ranges. That vid was obviously sped up, but probably entirely fake to begin with.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,891
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See my edit above. The laser appears to be real. The manufacturer says 8-10 minutes to cut a branch.
That looks more plausible. One minute to remove a bird nest, and the application is for removing debris from power lines. 8-10 minutes for a green tree branch that looks about 6" dia in the pic. Dunno about that. assuming it could be done, you can't control fall direction, and with dead wood you could end up with a real fire problem. Even with a green tree branch, you could leave some smoldering stuff that'll ignite when you leave the site. I'm dubious. I'd have to ask someone whose job it is to clean powerlines if this thing is cool.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,746
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Chinese have been stressing laser R&D since the 2000s, they made some key advances and actually pulled ahead of us IIRC. They way I heard it was it was born out of fear of American satellites (they blind our stuff whenever possible). The devices I've seen details on were all generally higher wattage than Western equivalents. I've spoken to engineers who have mentioned that lasers are now a Chinese specialty, so this device seems plenty plausible to me.

Not something you'd use on a dead tree though, that's for sure. Whooosh
 
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kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,746
48,572
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Assuming a ridiculous power supply, is anything like that plausible with a laser that doesn't make visible light?

Infrared lasers are strong enough to cut and engrave metal but are invisible. With fiber lasers I think it's the moisture and particulates in the air getting hit by the energy that lets you see a bit of a beam, but it's nothing like the movies, far as I know.
 
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