Embedded real-time processing of acoustic vector sensors using a lightweight open-source microcontroller

Abstract

This abstract is intended for the special session “Acoustic Vector Field Studies.” In this work, we will show our progress towards a low-power, lightweight, embedded data acquisition system and real-time signal processor for acoustic vector sensors, using an open-source microcontroller. Modern advances in low-cost, low-power “systems-on-a-chip” (SoC) provide unprecedented computational power, and some state-of-the-art devices are particularly well designed for acoustic signal processing applications. Here, we present the results of performance experiments, demonstrating the speed and accuracy of sampling and processing audio-frequency signals for a wide variety of signals and sampling regimes. We demonstrate trade-offs between sampling rates and resolutions for accuracy and speed at desired frequencies, and how these may be dynamically managed by autonomous systems. Finally, we will share some of our work towards real-time acoustic beamforming for use on autonomous vehicles.