Adaptive Microphone Element Selection for Low-Power UAV Sound Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aircraft face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to detect target sounds, as existing technologies do not effectively select and utilize multiple microphone elements to optimize signal processing.
Innovation Solution
The unmanned aircraft employs a processor that dynamically selects and adjusts the number of microphone elements to process signals based on detection results and aircraft state, switching between low and full processing modes to minimize power usage while ensuring effective sound detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all microphone elements are processed by the processor, then sound detection quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone array is segmented into multiple elements, and the processor selectively processes signals from only certain elements (target elements) at any given time. This segmentation allows the system to divide the full processing load into manageable portions, processing only the necessary subset of elements while leaving others unprocessed, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate sound detection quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing all microphone elements simultaneously (excessive action), the system applies partial processing by selecting and processing only a subset of target elements based on current operational requirements. This partial action approach processes just enough elements to achieve the required detection quality without the excessive power consumption of processing all elements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the number of processed elements is reduced, then power consumption is reduced, but sound detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts which microphone elements are selected as target elements based on real-time operational conditions, including aircraft state and detection requirements. This dynamic selection ensures that the processor always works with the most appropriate subset of elements for current conditions, optimizing the balance between power consumption and detection capability rather than using a fixed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the selection of target elements based on aircraft state (such as flight mode, altitude, speed). Different aircraft states require different detection capabilities, and by changing which elements are processed based on these parameters, the system maintains adequate detection capability across various operating conditions while minimizing power consumption in each specific state.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a large-capacity battery is incorporated, then flight duration is extended, but aircraft weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the need for large-capacity batteries by reducing power consumption at the processing level. By processing only selected target elements rather than all microphone elements, the system extracts the essential detection functionality while eliminating excess power consumption, thereby removing the requirement for heavy battery systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by intelligently managing its own power consumption through dynamic selection of target elements based on operational needs. This self-regulation of processing load allows the aircraft to operate efficiently with limited battery capacity, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external assistance from large battery systems.
Data Source
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.