Toward Testing Tasers

Dr. Andy Adler

Professor, P.Eng., Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Biomedical Engineering
Department of Systemts and Computer Engineering, Carleton University

Wednesday October 17, 2012 16:00-17:30
admission is free
ME-3356
Carleton University

Abstract

Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW’s), better known by the trademarked name Taser, are in widespread use by law enforcement in Canada and elsewhere in the world. CEW’s are increasingly accepted as a less lethal option in the use of force spectrum by police and the military despite public uncertainty about these weapons. Electrical characterization and regular testing of CEW’s in Canadian jurisdictions are becoming established as a means to validate performance of these weapons and to effectively manage their physical and operational lifecycle, including indications of failure modes. We present test performance data. Results show that Taser performance parameters have significant variance as a function of serial number order.

Last updated October 1, 2012