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New Underground System Monitors US-Mexican Border
Discovery ^ | Dec 21, 2010 | David Teegham

Posted on 12/24/2010 8:17:55 AM PST by epithermal

A new invisible border-monitoring system could radically alter how the United States secures the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. Known as Helios, the new border-monitoring system uses laser pulses transmitted through fiber-optic cables in the ground to detect movement on the surface: specifically, illegal immigrants.

A Tucson, Ariz.-based company called Zonge recently installed a Helios test system in the desert outside Tucson.

The small vibrations caused by a moving object on the surface above hit the fiber-optic cables buried in the ground, slightly distorting them. The distortion creates a "unique signature change in the laser pulses," according to The Engineer. That distortion can be detected by a Helios detector at at least one of the cable's ends.

The Arizona desert is home to many animals like coyotes and wolves that criss-cross the border every day. That's not what researchers and government agencies like the Border Patrol are worried about. They're mostly concerned with people sneaking into the United States illegally.

Helios is sensitive enough to detect small animals like dogs, and it can also discriminate between animals of different sizes on the surface. A horse will cause larger vibrations than, say, a human. The Helios system can also detect when people are running, walking, or digging, and in what direction.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; illegal; illegals; immigration; mx
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Couple this with laser guided munitions and they may have a winner.
1 posted on 12/24/2010 8:17:59 AM PST by epithermal
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To: epithermal

So long as those laser guided munitions are not rubber bullets or bean bags.


2 posted on 12/24/2010 8:20:12 AM PST by Gadsden1st
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To: epithermal
They're mostly concerned with people sneaking into the United States illegally.

No they're not.

3 posted on 12/24/2010 8:24:07 AM PST by theymakemesick ( islam - inspired by Satan www.prophetofdoom.net)
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To: theymakemesick

Maybe they’re trying to get an accurate count of future voters.


4 posted on 12/24/2010 8:25:43 AM PST by satan (Plumbing new depths of worthlessness on a daily basis.)
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To: epithermal
radically alter how the United States secures

As useless as the 'virtual fence' unless it has a ZAP feature set to "ON" status.


5 posted on 12/24/2010 8:26:16 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: epithermal

Remember when we heard that the cameras would replace a fence.. well we see how well that has done.. they need to build fences NOW


6 posted on 12/24/2010 8:28:03 AM PST by RnMomof7 (Gal 4:16 asks "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?")
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To: theymakemesick

You are correct, Watch for the FEDS to SEIZE this new technology and all related documents and prototypes in the name of NATIONAL SECURITY, as they threaten everyone involved with Criminal Prosecution if they ever release any information about said device or technology. We Will do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to Keep THE FREE FLOW OF DRUGS INTO THE USA, WE NEED THE DRUG WAR. Got it.


7 posted on 12/24/2010 8:30:13 AM PST by eyeamok
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To: RnMomof7

“they need to build fences NOW”

Useless. They just keep jumping over it especially with this psycho broad in Nuttylitano in charge.

Try landmines..


8 posted on 12/24/2010 8:30:39 AM PST by max americana
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To: epithermal

BS, out govt isn’t doing sh*t about anything down there.


9 posted on 12/24/2010 8:31:16 AM PST by television is just wrong
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To: epithermal

In order for this to be useful, they need to have a response to the detections. Hard to believe when they’ve already ceded teritory to the smugglers and put up signs warning US citizens to stay out.


10 posted on 12/24/2010 8:31:33 AM PST by umgud
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To: max americana

Monitor. smonitor.
Until they start laying land mines, they are not serious....


11 posted on 12/24/2010 8:32:08 AM PST by 9422WMR (Illegal is not a race)
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To: epithermal

dumbo is having the chief dyke of DHS count votes for him as they cross.

Nothing to see here citizens. Move along.


12 posted on 12/24/2010 8:34:18 AM PST by Sequoyah101 (Half of the population is below average)
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To: RnMomof7

We don’t need a fence. We need all laws enforced at local, state, and federal levels. We need no state charity help of any kind for illegals and their anchor babies. We need no hope of amnesty, ever.
Then they would simply go home and quit coming.


13 posted on 12/24/2010 8:35:18 AM PST by sheana
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To: epithermal

Reminds me of the movie “Tremors.” Except that it is illegal immigrants attacking everyone instead of giant worm-like things.


14 posted on 12/24/2010 8:35:33 AM PST by Squidster
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To: eyeamok
We Will do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to Keep THE FREE FLOW OF DRUGS INTO THE USA, WE NEED THE DRUG WAR. Got it.

The drug trade is supported, covertly, by more than just drug dealers and users. It is BIG business and pays for influence in HIGH places.
15 posted on 12/24/2010 8:36:14 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: epithermal
Unless you can adjust this stuff to detect humans or have a response force close enough to respond rapidly it will not work. if the response units respond to false movements of animals then after awhile they won't respond at all. It would be the same for sensors on the fence with wild animals, snakes and wind.
16 posted on 12/24/2010 8:40:40 AM PST by Americanexpat (Everytime I see that guy's face ot)
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To: epithermal

If we are not too careful we may make our border like the one between North and South Korea.

A No Mans Land full of a million landmines.


17 posted on 12/24/2010 8:43:55 AM PST by Eye of Unk (If your enemy is quick to anger, seek to irritate him. Sun Tzu, The Art of War.)
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To: epithermal
When the invisible fence was a complete failure, the installed changed their name and come up with another failure to bilk the tax payer. Build a real damn fence and miner it end of problem.
18 posted on 12/24/2010 8:48:45 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: Americanexpat

Response of animals said to be differentiable. More on the technical details here:

http://www.engr.arizona.edu/news/story.php?id=221

You have to read the PDF from the link on the site to see full test details. I think it shows promise, but then I am a geophysicist.


19 posted on 12/24/2010 8:49:52 AM PST by epithermal
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To: epithermal

They’re mostly concerned with people sneaking into the United States illegally. This is the first I heard of this . All they talk about is how much Obama has done, regardless, still thousands are still coming here.As fast as they can deport them, they can make it back before the ink dries, with new names and documents and all is well in their world


20 posted on 12/24/2010 8:54:19 AM PST by moonshinner_09
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