Spatial localization of concurrent multiple sound sources

Abstract

Based on the human auditory system for spatial localization theory, we proposed a spatial localization of multiple sound sources using a spherical robot head. Space sound vectors recorded by a microphone array with spatial configuration, are used to estimate the histograms of spatial arrival time difference vectors by solving the simultaneous equations in different frequency bands. The echo avoidance model based on precedence effect is used to reduce the interference of environment reverberations which provide the strong interference for phase vectors especially in small indoor environments. To integrate spatial cues of different microphone pairs, we propose a mapping method from the correlation between different microphone pairs to a 3D map corresponding to azimuth and elevation of sound sources directions. Experiments indicate that the system provides the distribution of sound source in azimuth-elevation localization, even concurrently in reverberant environments.