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In the back of the latest issue of Popular Mechanics there was an aricle profiling a safecracker who helps police, banks, private companies, etc.. crack open safes that they needed opened. The part I found hard to believe was his reliance on an amplifier and headset. Here's a quote - "Along with a
light touch, amplifiers help LaBarge discern the minute mechanical discrepancies that give away the winning numbers." The part I found hard to believe was the reliance on the human ear to detect these discrepancies. It seems to me that it would be too hard to design a cup the at would fit over the dial and spin it, taking note of the sound each number emitted with a much higher degree of discernability than the human ear can muster. After the first spin most of the numbers would return a fairly common audio response. A couple of more spins should narrow it down a single number that gives off a unique signal. After that it would simply be a matter of turning the dial back and forth to find the same signal when its given off by the other numbers in the combination. (Being mechanical devices, the signal should be similar for each right number.) Maybe this idea is baked though and the guy they profiled uses his ear because he gets paid by the hour.
Popular Mechanics: This is my Job: Dave LaBarge
http://www.popularm...my_job/1880837.html
[jutta, Oct 08 2005]
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Actually, I'm not sure what the amplifier is used for at all. |
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How do the numbers in a safe combination emit these signals that you're talking about? |
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[Jutta]: Basically, when the dial on a safe is moved to certain positions, metal bits touch each other and push each other around. These mechanical bits interact in certain way, and when put in the right configuration, the safe opens. If you can hear these contacts, and possibly various friction sounds, you can figure out the mechanical configuration of the safe, and eventually extrapolate the combination. |
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//It seems to me that it would be too hard// lost it here... did you mean *not* too hard? |
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//cup the at would // you type too fast! |
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I think (personally) that it is a case of wearing my glasses helps me hear better! |
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there are little circles with notches in the top in a lock. As you turn, the first will click onto a bar, thus activating, the second, etc. Those are the noises you hear. |
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There are robotic devices that simply try all possible combinations for a particular type of safe. You need to know what type of safe you are dealing with to be able to programme the machine. No use of sound, though. |
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