Bat-inspired ultrasonic sonar system to hear hidden footsteps

London, September 25 : Inspired by bats' ability to catch insects by detecting the vibrations created by the flutter of their wings, a University of Mississippi physicist has conceived the idea of making a footstep detector that can spot people who may be security risks by intercepting ultrasonic echoes created by moving steps.

James Sabatier says such an ultrasonic sonar system can be made with the help of ultrasonic microphones, which are not badly affected by wind noise that quickly drowns airborne sounds of footsteps.

The researcher reckons that the movement of a walking person's arms towards and away from the ultrasonic source may also produce the same effect, reports New Scientist magazine.

Sabatier hopes that his idea will gain adequate attention from groups involved in various security applications, such as border control.

ANI