Research Summaries

Back Feasibility of In-Air MEMS DF Acoustic Sensor for Drone Detection

Fiscal Year 2017
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Physics
Investigator(s) Coursey, Todd
Sponsor Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center-Pacific (Navy)
Summary Feasibility of in-air MEMS DF acoustic sensor for Drone detection. The proposed research is to explore a miniature direction finding (DF) sensor for in-air Drone detection based on a MEMS directional microphone developed by our group that operates similar to the Ormia ochracea fly's sensing ability.
The directional sound sensing using a MEMS sensor modeled after an Ormia ochracea fly's sensing ability has already produced positive results in direction sound sensing. The sensor operates on a narrow frequency band, which depends on the mechanical structure and stiffness of the material used. The design, fabrication and testing by our group has generated a device that can detect very specific narrow frequency band with a high degree of accuracy.
Intend of the propose research is to develop a directional MEMS sensor capable of detecting Low Slow Flyer UAVs, with specific harmonic detection that does not respond to environmental noise.
The motivation for this research to provide a low cost, effective answer for detection of the rapidly evolving threat in terms of both autonomy and potential destructive precision of UAVs. Because UAV emerging technologies are driven by commercial applications, and most components are available in off-the-shelf applications, it is likely that near future UAVs will be as capable as the best of our small systems in operation today.
Keywords MEMS sensors
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal