Having tired of my adventures in budget dumpster diving (which yielded an ultrasonic cloaking device), and finished with sorting my junk mail (which introduced the world to the "vomit beam"), I've moved on to.... the U.S. Patent Office.
That ended up being more fun than I thought, particularly when I ran into this patent published just a couple of weeks ago for a "system and method of wireless remote control of various defense systems installed aboard an airplane." That's not so catchy, so I'm just going to call it the "Anti-Terrorist Sticky Glue Device" (although it's really so much more). It's described as a system that:
How the heck does this thing work?
As the patent explains: "If the captain senses danger, he/she communicates to crew personnel using the communication capabilities of the wireless means in code form without calling attention of the hijackers to be ready to put on masks or/and turn 'on' the chemical spray from the spray nozzle(s) 42 strategically located outside the cabin door 26."
Then let the sticky glue (or gas) fly!
There are other scenarios, too. "In another aspect of the invention, laser guns which are strategically pointed behind the cockpit door (and other areas in the cabin), can be selectively used by appropriate personnel and under appropriate conditions."
Well, I suppose it would also help if usable laser guns existed, but that's such a minor detail.
