echolocate
Navigate by sound
To echolocate is to navigate or locate objects by emitting sounds and interpreting the returning echoes—the method bats and dolphins use to find prey in darkness or murky water.
The term extends to technological systems like sonar and radar that operate on similar principles: The submarine echolocated the wreckage on the ocean floor.
Inaudible high-frequency waves
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- soundwaveTraveling pressure disturbance
- pitchFrequency of sound
- clicksBrief sharp sounds
pulses · vibration · reverberation · waveform · amplitude · resonance · decibel · auditory
Echolocating marine mammal
- whaleHuge sea mammal
- porpoiseSmall toothed whale relative
- belugaWhite Arctic cetacean
- orcaLarge predatory dolphin
melon · blowhole · clicks · whistles · pod · ocean · underwater · depths
Scientific name for bats
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
- roostBird's sleeping spot
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- nocturnalActive during darkness
microbat · megabat · colony · flight · wingspan · guano · fruitbat · hibernate
Position relative to surroundings
- spatialRelating to physical extent
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- distanceSpace between two points
location · mapping · darkness · blind · surroundings · terrain · pathfinding · detection
Underwater naval craft
- pingBrief metallic tone
- transducerEnergy form converter
- hydrophoneSubmersible sound sensor
- detectionAct of finding something
sonobuoy · active · passive · range · depth · target · sweep · propagation
ultrasound
Inaudible high-frequency waves
clicks · pulses · vibration · reverberation · waveform · amplitude · resonance · decibel · auditory · chirp
dolphin
Echolocating marine mammal
orca · melon · blowhole · clicks · whistles · pod · ocean · underwater · depths · aquatic
chiroptera
Scientific name for bats
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
- roostBird's sleeping spot
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
nocturnal · microbat · megabat · colony · flight · wingspan · guano · fruitbat · hibernate · hunting
orientation
Position relative to surroundings
- spatialRelating to physical extent
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
distance · location · mapping · darkness · blind · surroundings · terrain · pathfinding · detection · proximity
submarine
Underwater naval craft
- pingBrief metallic tone
- transducerEnergy form converter
- hydrophoneSubmersible sound sensor
detection · sonobuoy · active · passive · range · depth · target · sweep · propagation · echogram