Sound Targeting Platform
Andrew Lenharth
Michael Schaffer
Quang Luu
We are building a system to locate the source of a sound relative to a stationary platform. The system will aim an arm towards the source and signal an external device when the arm is properly aimed. The platform is versatile in that its application changes by what is attached to the arm. A camera could be used for a security application or video conferencing. A light could be attached for use in conferences or theatre applications.
The system consists of an audio codec, FPGA, step motors, microphones, and audio filters. Sound input enters the system through a pair of microphones. The sound is filtered to the desired range of frequencies that we deem interesting. The audio codec then digitizes the signal and sends it through a signal correlator on the FPGA. From this we can infer the angle to the source and drive the step motors to point the arm at the source.