Research Summaries

Back MEMS Acoustic Sensor for UAV Detection and Localization

Fiscal Year 2019
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department NPS Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Karunasiri, Gamani
Alves, Fabio D.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary The proposed one-year research effort is to explore the feasibility of a MEMS acoustic sensor designed to detect and localize UAVs. Conventional directional sound sensing systems use an array of spatially separated microphones to achieve directional sensing. The accuracy of the directionality depends on the extent of spatial separation of the microphones making them bulky. Furthermore, current available microphones are operated in broadband regime increasing their vulnerability to interference due to background noise and undesirable acoustic sources. The proposed detection and localization system is based on the ear drums of the parasitic fly Ormia ochracea. During the course of the research, acoustic signature of available UAV will be collected using calibrated research grade microphones. The spectral characteristics of the UAV will be studied and analyzed. The perennial spectral features will be selected as requirements for the spectral response of the sensors, which will be designed to respond accordingly. Field experimentation will be performed to evaluate the detection range and directionality accuracy and feedback the design process. The envisioned advantages are many. The Ormia-based MEMS sensors are around 50 times smaller than the sound wavelength they detect and the final system including electronics would be smaller than a square centimeter. Resonant sensors can be more than 1000 times more sensitive than currently available broadband microphones. Directionality can be achieved with a single sensor and 3D localization can be achieved with a few distributed sensors. At the completion of the research a report will be provided comparing the performance of the novel-MEMS directional acoustic sensor with conventional microphones in detecting several different UAVs. In addition, findings of the research will be available in the thesis of the participating NPS graduate students.
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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