Acoustic Dual-Function Communication and Echo-Location in Inaudible Band.

Area of Science:

• Acoustic communication systems
• Wireless communication technologies
• Signal processing

Background:

• Renewed interest in acoustic communication as an alternative to radio frequency (RF) systems.
• Need for dedicated communication channels in RF-denied or spectrum-congested environments.
• Potential of acoustic systems for critical services like communication, localization, detection, and sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a novel acoustic system for integrated sensing and communication.
• To utilize low-cost, off-the-shelf hardware for the acoustic system.
• To evaluate the performance of the dual-function system in a real-world setting.

Main Methods:

• Transmission of a single, custom-designed signal in the inaudible band (18-22 kHz).
• Experimental testbed using a home speaker, a smartphone with a microphone, and an additional receiver.
• Integrated sensing (ranging) and communication capabilities using the same acoustic signal.
• Experimental evaluation of noise, data rate, and distance estimation accuracy.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a dual-function acoustic system using inexpensive hardware.
• Real-world performance evaluation of the system's communication and sensing capabilities.
• Assessment of the system's effectiveness in terms of noise tolerance, data rate, and ranging accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The proposed acoustic system offers a cost-effective solution for integrated sensing and communication.
• The system leverages the inaudible frequency band for independent communication channels.
• This technology shows promise for applications in RF-denied or spectrum-shared environments.