The SQUID A tentacled speed bump

[Are_grits_groceries]

An alternative to the dangerous spike strips used during high-speed police chases, the remotely activated SQUID (Safe and Quick Undercarriage Immobilization Device) wraps sticky tendrils around the driver’s suspension. As the getaway car snags on the speed-bump-like device, infrared sensors detect the vehicle’s heat and deploy another set of tendrils that lasso the drivetrain, stopping the car in its tracks. The Department of Homeland Security gets a prototype next month.
http://www.popsci.com/bown/2009/product/squid

Yay! DHS gets a prototype.

[n2doc]

1. "Stopping a car in its tracks"

What if the car is going 110 mph? Seems like even if it had the strength to deal with those forces the sudden stoppage of a car's front tires would cause it to flip end over end?

[SIMPLYB1980]

2. I doubt it's as sudden as all that.

It would take a few seconds to really get a good grip.

[90-percent]

3. 110 mph

There's a real world example of this in the history of drag racing. Back in the 60's and 70's in handicapped classes ( one car had a national record, or handicap of, say 10.5 seconds, and the other had a national record of 9.5 seconds, the slower car would get a one second head start off the line) the leading car at the finish line would look at where the other racer was and stomp on the front brakes in order to prevent a "break out". A break out is when you run quicker than the national record to win. The goal was to beat the other guy, but not so much that you lower the national record (the handicap) so that you are at a greater handicap disadvantage.

It was very common back then to see the leading car crossing the finish line with the front wheels locked and smoking!

So locking the front wheels at high speeds will not flip the car over. However, after crossing the finish line, the braking is no longer needed and would be released and you're back to normal.

In this case, with the brakes fully locked and unable to be released would probably cause a loss of steering control and the car would probably spin a few times and might flip if it went completely sideways.

My point is that it would be highly improbable for the car to do an end over end flip.

-90% (nitromethane) Jimmy