Acoustic Localization based on FPGA

Novel acoustic localization device based on FPGA is presented in this paper. It is based on a FPGA multi-channel signal processing module that is connected to a sound detector array. Sound detector is made by microphones and cascade analog amplifiers. Detector also includes Schmitt trigger that generates a true/false logic signal in correspondence to availability of sound waves in surrounding area. Each microphone was assigned predetermined sound wave direction detecting area. Finite state machine is implemented in FPGA in order to detect a direction of a sound wave. One drawback to this method is that the analog circuits should be set equally among channels. Discussion is done on how to equalize multi-channel analog components that are used for sound localization device. Applicability of such devices may be in tracking some sound-active object (animals, wounded peoples) in an environment with reduced visibility (fog, forest, muddy water).