[Movies] Scientist Designs Real-Life 'Spider-Sense'
Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 02.25.2013
It could let you walk around with your eyes closed...
A scientist has designed an invention that he equates to Peter Parker's spider sense ability. New Scientist reports that Victor Mateevitsi from the University of Illinois in Chicago has designed a system, called "SpiderSense," which allows you to feel how close you are to nearby objest and can let the wearer walk around with their eyes closed (or, more pratically, help the visually-impared get around).
The system consists of "small robotic arms packaged in modules with microphones that send out and pick up ultrasonic reflections from objects. When the ultrasound detects someone moving closer to the microphone, the arms respond by exerting a growing pressure on the body. Seven of these modules are distributed across the suit to give the wearer as near to 360 degree ultrasound coverage as possible."
Now granted, this isn't spider-sense in the true comic book sensibility, which is more of a danger sense. But it's probably the closes thing to it. Moreover, Mateevitsi tested the suit by gibing blindfolded students cardboard throwing stars to toss at anyone the suit sensed approaching them. The success rate was 95%.
Trials are planned in order to help the visually-impaired.
