Drone Microphone Array Switching for Low-Power Sound Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aircraft face challenges in incorporating large-capacity batteries due to high power consumption for signal processing, limiting flight hours and sound detection capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The unmanned aircraft includes a microphone with multiple elements and a processor that selectively processes signals from target elements based on detection results or aircraft state, adjusting the number of elements used for processing to reduce power consumption while maintaining sound detection quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If all microphone elements process signals continuously, then sound detection quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound detection qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between different operational modes (first mode with all elements active, second mode with subset active, third mode with single element active) based on detection results and aircraft state, allowing the system to adapt power consumption and detection quality to current operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary number of microphone elements based on current requirements - using all elements when high detection quality is needed, fewer elements during normal operation, and minimal elements when power conservation is prioritized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Duration of action of moving object

If large-capacity battery is incorporated, then flight duration is extended, but aircraft weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight durationVSAvoidaircraft weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the microphone system by dynamically adjusting the number of active elements and processing intensity based on detection results and aircraft state, reducing overall power consumption to enable extended flight duration without requiring proportionally larger battery capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If signal processing is performed on all elements, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the microphone elements into different operational groups (first plurality, second plurality, single element) and applies different processing strategies to each segment based on current operational mode, reducing overall processing load while maintaining detection accuracy when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250301259A1Unmanned aircraft

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An unmanned aircraft includes: a microphone including a plurality of elements; and a processor that processes signals output from target elements included in the plurality of elements. In the unmanned aircraft, the processor performs a detection process of detecting a target sound signal of a target sound from the signals output from the target elements included in the plurality of elements, and changes the target elements that output the signals to be processed by the processor to select at least one target element that outputs a signal to be processed by the processor from among the plurality of elements, in accordance with a result of the detection process.