Three-dimensional localization of point acoustic sources using a planar microphone array combined with beamforming

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Signal Processing
• Array Signal Processing

Background:

• Acoustic source localization is crucial in various fields.
• Traditional methods often struggle with accurate 3D positioning and depth estimation.
• Limitations exist in current acoustic imaging techniques regarding depth resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel beamforming-based acoustic imaging (BBAI) method.
• To achieve accurate three-dimensional (3D) acoustic source localization.
• To determine both the planar (XY) position and the depth (Z) of acoustic sources.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes a two-dimensional (2D) microphone array.
• Reconstructs the acoustic field on virtual XY planes at varying Z-axis distances.
• Determines source depth by identifying the virtual plane with maximum acoustic field response.
• Applies standard beamforming principles for XY localization on the identified plane.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated 3D acoustic source localization through simulations.
• Validated the BBAI method with experimental evaluations in an anechoic chamber.
• Both simulations and experiments confirmed the capability to locate sources in 3D space.

Conclusions:

• The proposed BBAI method enables accurate 3D acoustic source localization.
• The technique effectively determines source position and depth.
• This method offers a robust solution for acoustic imaging challenges.