2.131 Advanced Instrumentation and Measurement
In this class we developed a simple little device to characterize a MasterLock by measuring shackle displacement as the dial is incremented to various positions.
Say what?!
The shackle (U-shaped piece that does the locking), through the mechanism inside, pushes up against the ridged combination dials when you pull on it. By accurately and precisely measuring the displacement of the shackle when the dial is rotated a few degrees at a time for several rotations, one can quickly "feel out" and map the combination of the lock. With a device like this you can open any combination lock of this type lying around your house in a couple minutes. No need to throw out old/forgotten locks! Would be a bit trickier to set up for a lock that is actually locking something, but not impossible. Please don't use this knowledge for crimes/sadness.
Check out our final paper below for more info.
Video below of the device fiddling with a lock and cracking it!
Say what?!
The shackle (U-shaped piece that does the locking), through the mechanism inside, pushes up against the ridged combination dials when you pull on it. By accurately and precisely measuring the displacement of the shackle when the dial is rotated a few degrees at a time for several rotations, one can quickly "feel out" and map the combination of the lock. With a device like this you can open any combination lock of this type lying around your house in a couple minutes. No need to throw out old/forgotten locks! Would be a bit trickier to set up for a lock that is actually locking something, but not impossible. Please don't use this knowledge for crimes/sadness.
Check out our final paper below for more info.
Video below of the device fiddling with a lock and cracking it!
| finalpaper_erbzakpeters.pdf |