We built SPECTRA — a system for transmitting real digital data, camouflaged as natural sounds and optical phenomena.
No Wi-Fi, no GSM, no internet. Just binary or ternary encoded signals hidden in what looks like environmental noise: bird chirps, light flickering, wind-like modulations.
Instead of obvious radio signals, SPECTRA uses:
Acoustic masking: frequency-shifted codes embedded in naturally sounding audio patterns.
Optical masking: binary or RGB ternary codes transmitted through LEDs and lasers, camouflaged as normal light variations.
The goal: create a resilient, stealthy communication system that can survive when conventional networks fail or are under surveillance.
Inspiration came from how native tribes imitated birds to send messages — now reimagined with embedded microcontrollers and dynamic adaptation.
We combined optical + acoustic transmission to boost survivability under different environmental conditions.
Early prototype and more details: https://alexs749266.github.io/SPECTRA-Communication/
Happy to hear any thoughts or hack ideas!
Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43803649
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