Listen to the Night: Build Your Own Bat Detector at the MAD Museum
Bats are all around us – in gardens, parks, woodlands and city centres – but they move silently through the night, almost invisible to the human senses. That is, until now. With the Build Your Own Bat Detector Kit by Eight Innovations, you can tune into the hidden world of bats and hear their ultrasonic calls in real time.
Here at the MAD Museum, we're fascinated by sound, movement, and invention. This kit brings all three together in a compact, hands-on project that's perfect for budding naturalists, night explorers, and curious minds of all ages.
What Is It?
The Bat Detector is a DIY electronics kit that lets you build your own working ultrasonic listening device. Once assembled, it converts ultrasonic bat calls into sounds you can hear– so you can identify species by their calls and experience the nocturnal world like never before.
You don’t need soldering skills or complex tools. Just follow the step-by-step guide, fit the parts together, and start scanning the skies.
Why We Love It:
-
🔊 Hear Real Bat Echoes – Experience a whole new layer of the natural world
-
✍️ Build It Yourself – Engaging, hands-on STEM activity
-
📚 Learn as You Go – Comes with a detailed guide on bats and how to detect them
-
🌿 Eco-Friendly Design – Sustainably made with minimal plastic
Whether you're camping, walking at dusk, or exploring your own garden, the bat detector turns any evening into a mini nature expedition.
Who's It For?
-
Aspiring ecologists and wildlife fans
-
STEM learners and schools
-
Families looking for a screen-free adventure
-
Visitors inspired by our MAD Museum exhibits
Bat Facts You'll Love
-
UK bats use echolocation at frequencies from 20–120 kHz
-
The Bat Detector picks up sounds most humans can’t hear
-
Some bats fly up to 30 mph and use sound to avoid trees, catch insects, and communicate
Explore More at MAD
We love gadgets that help us understand the world in new ways. The Build Your Own Bat Detector Kit is available online at our MAD Factory shop and is a perfect companion to our hands-on mechanical exhibits.
Come visit us, build something brilliant, and listen to the night like never before.