Vol. 16: MakeShift: Bomb in the Parking Garage

The creator of MacGyver challenges you to avoid being blown up by a subterranean bomb.

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Tick, Tick, Tick ...

The Scenario

You've worked late into the night as a computer engineer in the high-rise headquarters of an international bank, and you're finally heading with your briefcase to your car in the subterranean parking garage. Your car is the only one left on this dimly lit level, parked along a cement wall right near the elevator. But, as you pull out your keys and are about to hit the unlock button, you hear a loud beep behind you.

Startled, you turn to see an object against the wall just a few feet away with a pulsing red light on it -- and in the poor light, you can immediately make out an illuminated timer which is now ticking off the seconds from a 3-minute window!

There is a jumble of multicolored wires, and an array of three motion detectors set to cover a 180º field off the wall, all of which are wired into a small black box sitting on a large brick-shaped object that's slightly smaller than a shoebox. Also atop the brick and on its ends, you see three horizontal glass tubes that appear to contain mercury with wires at both ends, as well as a metallic-looking cylinder with several long wires jammed into the side of the brick-like mass. There's little doubt left in your mind now that this is a bomb! -- and your arrival here must've set off the timer.

The Challenge

Though you know how mercury switches work, you're uncertain of the purpose of the motion detectors, or of the black box -- could it contain a hidden transponder? If you try to move out of range or call for help with your cellphone, might your attempt to flee or the cellphone signal set the device off? Hell, even pushing the unlock button on your key ring now could send the wrong kind of signal, no? But panic is not an option, as it seems you have less than three minutes to decide your best course of action. So what are you going to do?!

What You Have

Your briefcase and pockets contain what a computer engineer might normally have, within reason -- if that includes a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool, so be it. Beyond that, your brain is the best tool you've got. So think fast, and ... good luck.

Send a detailed description of your MakeShift solution with sketches and/or photos to by March 6, 2009. If duplicate solutions are submitted, the winner will be determined by the quality of the explanation and presentation. The most plausible and most creative solutions will each win a MAKE T-shirt and a MAKE Pocket Ref. Think positive and include your shirt size and contact information with your solution. Good luck! For readers' solutions to previous MakeShift challenges, visit makezine.com/makeshift.

And the next MakeShift challenge could be yours! That's right, we're throwing open the doors and offering you the chance to create your own MakeShift to challenge the world. Just submit an original scenario in the familiar format - the challenge, what you have, etc. - with some ideas of how you think it should be solved. The winning scenario will not only be published right here but will also earn you a $50 gift certificate for the Maker Shed. The deadline is March 6, 2009, so get out there and start looking for trouble!

Extras

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Use your breifcase to bust open the window of your car....provided the bomb is on the other side of the car, unlock the doors, and carefully, VERY carefully step inside....check under your dash and seat for any other explosive devices, and start your car. keep your head down and if the bomb explodes glass wont go through your face. drive OUT not to the roof of the parking garage and phone for help...
Posted by Conrad2468 on March 08, 2009 at 10:07:41 Pacific Time

Are you really sure that it is a bomb?
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It's interesting to contrast this scenario with the article about Star Simpson, who was arrested for having a "hoax device" on her clothing in the airport, with this scenario.

How do you know it's a bomb?

People were criticizing the Boston police for calling for an emergency shutdown of an area due to a device which turned out to be a traffic monitor. And then they also had a major emergency reaction for some blinky led signs that someone
put under bridges.

Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone by making some peer pressure in the "maker" community that handmade electronic devices should have neat wiring, careful workmanship, and a general air of harmlessness before they are left around in public. PC boards should be used when possible, and make sure to use solder mask for that professional appearance. Using hard drive enclosures is a good way to get that consumer electronics look.

Posted by Henry Minsky on November 17, 2008 at 13:04:01 Pacific Time

Are you really sure that it is a bomb?
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Absolutely true. For all we know it could be a small super computer, or a wondeful motion triggered modular synthesiser. :)

But it it IS a bomb, by some odd chance, why it it such a big deal, you're the only one on the floor, and the bomb is only the size of a shoe box. Now, assuming that it isn't a nuclear device or has some rediculously powerful explosive in it, then the bomb really isn't that dangerous. The bombs that destroy office buildings are the size of entire vans, and even then they normally don't destroy the entire building. So personally, I'd just drive out of the garage until I can get cellphone reception, and call the police, and tell them that there's a bomb. Hey, you could even cut out the risk of sending a dangerous signal, and just try to run up a floor or two in the parking garage and hide instead of having to risk your cell or car unlock signal set off the bomb
Posted by Kaji13 on December 23, 2008 at 00:47:35 Pacific Time

Are you really sure that it is a bomb?
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You would be really surprised what the safe distance for bombs are, and what the explosive yield for something slightly smaller than a shoe box. Throw some ball bearings or nails into the equation, and your looking at a bad day for someone.

Granted, the bomb is inside, and there are potentially things to hide behind. AFT states that a pipe bomb (about 5lbs of TNT equiv) has a building evac distance of 70ft, and an outdoor evac distance of 850 ft. A briefcase or suitcase bomb (about 50lbs TNT equiv)inside is 150 ft and outdoor 1850ft.

Of course who knows what the explosive yield is for this particular situation. If it's slightly smaller than a shoe box, let's say 17cm x 12 cm x 35cm " or 7140 cm^3, and it's C4 with a density of 1.63g/cm^3, so we are looking at something that weighs about 11kg (24lbs). C4 is 1.34 times as explosive as TNT, so we're looking at about a 32lbs explosives.

Whose got the time to figure all this stuff out in this situation though? :0) Good luck with the challenge to all.
Posted by VinnyF on January 04, 2009 at 06:37:19 Pacific Time

Showing messages 1 through 4 of 4.

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