Accurate sound source localization in a reverberant environment using multiple acoustic sensors

Abstract

This paper introduces a new method for the estimation of sound source distance and direction using at least three microphone sensors in indoor environments. Unlike the other methods that normally use approximations in obtaining the time difference between sensors, this method exploits the existed geometrical relationships of the sensors to form an exact solution to estimating the source position. To overcome reverberation, an enhancing pre-process has been used for different sound sources with different spectra, e.g., single frequency, multiple frequencies and different noise shapes. Source direction and distances are estimated from time of sound wave travel and distances of acoustic sensors. Using the method described in this paper a level of 1° accuracy is obtained. Several experimental tests have been undertaken that verify the results. Conclusions and future work are also described.