Grappler police bumper for ending car chases - GIF

[Jon]

Grappler police bumper for ending car chases.




More: Grappler Police Bumper

Previously:

NASA Tire Assault Vehicle (TAV), made from a German World War II tank model
Track N Go wheel-driven vehicle tracks - GIF, video, patent
1965 Le Mans race car drivers sprint to cars to start race - photos

[Frank S]

And along comes a better way to get someone killed.
Devices like this only work properly when the driver in the fleeing vehicle is experienced and has quick enough responses to maintain control while being dragged to a stop.
Here is what happens when a single rear wheel suddenly locks up, even long before there is any reverse tension is exerted by the badge.
First thing that will happen is the vehicle will violently lurch in the direction of which ever rear wheel has been snagged. If this is a rear wheel drive the other rear wheel will suddenly try to double in speed, the driver will try to correct the movement with a quick jerk of the steering wheel in the opposite direction, creating an over steer once this happens the vehicle will feel like it is trying to roll over the driver will snap the wheels back in the opposing direction to counter the roll effect by now the vehicle will go into what is called the death wobble its inertia will cause it to snap left and right the locked up wheel will begin to hop losing contact with the road surface then reconnecting causing more violent reactions of the vehicle just now the tire explodes dropping that side causing the vehicle to roll over Job done. Short wheelbase vehicles with a high center of gravity could do this before the badge has even managed to pay out the arresting strap to begin hauling the suspects vehicle to a stop creating a wreck on a wreck.
You may have noticed in the demonstration the first vehicle captured was a long wheel base vehicle and when the video showed the left front tire the driver was steering to the right to counter the effects of the pull on his left rear. The third capture was perhaps the safest deployment as long as the towing vehicle was significantly heavier than the trailer. otherwise the first case scenario will occur. the red car being captured being a front wheel drive comparatively long wheel base for height and width would have had a lessor effect due to both drive wheels still rolling.

[old kodger]

Agreed Frank, and in all this, even if it causes a fatality, the police will remain blameless.