Laser‐generated ultrasound combined with either a confocal Fabry‐Pe´rot interferometer (CFPI), a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer, or a capacitive air‐coupled transducer was used to locate both embedded and surface discontinuities in moving bulky steel specimens. The aim was to find an optimal remote sensor. Requirements imply single‐sided access and minimal surface damages. Performed tests in an industrial environment demonstrate perceptible advantages of the CFPI detector permitting stable single‐shot measurements at speeds up to 10–15 m/s. © 2004 American Institute of Physics