Design and Evaluation of a Scalable and Reconfigurable Multi-Platform System for Acoustic Imaging

This paper proposes a scalable and multi-platform framework for signal acquisition and processing, which allows for the generation of acoustic images using planar arrays of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones with low development and deployment costs. Acoustic characterization of MEMS sensors was performed, and the beam pattern of a module, based on an 8 × 8 planar array and of several clusters of modules, was obtained. A flexible framework, formed by an FPGA, an embedded processor, a computer desktop, and a graphic processing unit, was defined. The processing times of the algorithms used to obtain the acoustic images, including signal processing and wideband beamforming via FFT, were evaluated in each subsystem of the framework. Based on this analysis, three frameworks are proposed, defined by the specific subsystems used and the algorithms shared. Finally, a set of acoustic images obtained from sound reflected from a person are presented as a case study in the field of biometric identification. These results reveal the feasibility of the proposed systemSpanish research project SAM: TEC 2015-68170-R (MINECO/FEDER, UE

Acoustic biometric system based on preprocessing techniques and linear support vector machines

Producción CientíficaDrawing on the results of an acoustic biometric system based on a MSE classifier, a new biometric system has been implemented. This new system preprocesses acoustic images, extracts several parameters and finally classifies them, based on Support Vector Machine (SVM). The preprocessing techniques used are spatial filtering, segmentation—based on a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to separate the person from the background, masking—to reduce the dimensions of images—and binarization—to reduce the size of each image. An analysis of classification error and a study of the sensitivity of the error versus the computational burden of each implemented algorithm are presented. This allows the selection of the most relevant algorithms, according to the benefits required by the system. A significant improvement of the biometric system has been achieved by reducing the classification error, the computational burden and the storage requirements

International Conference on Sensors Engineering and Electronics Instrumental Advances (SEIA 2016)

Producción CientíficaThis paper presents the characterization of each of the MEMS microphones which form a uniform planar array used for acoustical imaging. These microphones show an esentialy flat frequency response, with a ±2dB variation between all sensors. This paper also shows the design and the acoustic characterization of the planar array of MEMS microphones. Analyzing the acoustic array characterization it was observed that as the variations of the measured beampattern, with respect to the theoretical one, are limited, it is not necessary to apply calibration techniques to the array.MINECO/FEDER, UE TEC 2015-68170-

Measurement of acceleration response functions with scalable low-cost devices. An application to the experimental modal analysis

Producción CientíficaOne of the most popular options in the Structural Health Monitoring field is the tracking of the modal parameters, which are estimated through the frequency response functions of the structure, usually in the form of accelerances, which are computed as the ratio between the measured accelerations and the applied forces. This requires the use of devices capable of synchronously recording accelerations at several points of the structure at high sampling rates and the subsequent computational analysis using the recorded data. To this end, this work presents and validates a new scalable acquisition system based on multiple myRIO devices and digital MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) accelerometers, intended for modal analysis of large structures. A simple form of this system was presented by the authors in a previous work, showing that a single board with some accelerometers connected to it got to obtain high quality measurements in both time and frequency domains. Now, a larger system composed by several slave boards connected and synchronized to a master one is presented. Delays lower than 100 ns are found between the synchronised channels of the proposed system. For validation purposes, a case study is presented where the devices are deployed on a timber platform to estimate its modal properties, which are compared with the ones provided by a commercial system, based on analog accelerometers, to show that similar results are obtained at a significantly lower cost.Junta de Castilla y León - FEDER (VA095P17 y VA228P20)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Ministerio de Universidades - FEDER (RTI2018-098425

Feasibility of discriminating UAV propellers noise from distress signals to locate people in enclosed environments using MEMS microphone arrays

Producción CientíficaDetecting and finding people are complex tasks when visibility is reduced. This happens, for example, if a fire occurs. In these situations, heat sources and large amounts of smoke are generated. Under these circumstances, locating survivors using thermal or conventional cameras is not possible and it is necessary to use alternative techniques. The challenge of this work was to analyze if it is feasible the integration of an acoustic camera, developed at the University of Valladolid, on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to locate, by sound, people who are calling for help, in enclosed environments with reduced visibility. The acoustic array, based on MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) microphones, locates acoustic sources in space, and the UAV navigates autonomously by closed enclosures. This paper presents the first experimental results locating the angles of arrival of multiple sound sources, including the cries for help of a person, in an enclosed environment. The results are promising, as the system proves able to discriminate the noise generated by the propellers of the UAV, at the same time it identifies the angles of arrival of the direct sound signal and its first echoes reflected on the reflective surfaces.Junta de Castilla y León (project VA082G18

Virtual Laboratory Methodologies in Electrical Engineering

Non

Acoustic detection and localisation system for Hylotrupes bajulus L. larvae using a MEMS microphone array

Producción CientíficaA novel system for acoustic detection of the presence of xylophagous insect larvae inside structural timber beams is presented. It is based on an extensive array of MEMS microphones that allows the acoustic detection and localisation of the larvae when they are active. In a first phase, the activity of the larvae is continuously detected by means of frequency filtering and a sliding energy estimator, and after that, a set of short-duration segmented signals is generated, which obtains the spatial localisation of the larvae, by means of a shaping algorithm based on delay-sum beamforming techniques. The tests carried out demonstrate that it is possible to detect and locate multiple larvae of Hylotrupes bajulus L. inside structural-sized pieces of wood of Pinus syilvestris L., as well as their internal trajectory. In the future, the system could address the identification of the specific type of xylophage responsible for the deterioration by using machine learning or equivalent techniques, based on the temporal and frequency information of the detected sound events. The aim of this work is to control unintentional infestions in the international timber trade, in the assembly and the use of infested timber and, in all cases, to be able to carry out selective, targeted and localised treatments and to verify their success.Junta de Castilla y León - UE-FEDER (VA228P20

Optimization of a Biometric System Based on Acoustic Images

On the basis of an acoustic biometric system that captures 16 acoustic images of a person for 4 frequencies and 4 positions, a study was carried out to improve the performance of the system. On a first stage, an analysis to determine which images provide more information to the system was carried out showing that a set of 12 images allows the system to obtain results that are equivalent to using all of the 16 images. Finally, optimization techniques were used to obtain the set of weights associated with each acoustic image that maximizes the performance of the biometric system. These results improve significantly the performance of the preliminary system, while reducing the time of acquisition and computational burden, since the number of acoustic images was reduced

Design and validation of a scalable, reconfigurable and low-cost structural health monitoring system

Producción CientíficaThis paper presents the design, development and testing of a low-cost Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system based on MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) triaxial accelerometers. A new control system composed by a myRIO platform, managed by specific LabVIEW software, has been developed. The LabVIEW software also computes the frequency response functions for the subsequent modal analysis. The proposed SHM system was validated by comparing the data measured by this set-up with a conventional SHM system based on piezoelectric accelerometers. After carrying out some validation tests, a high correlation can be appreciated in the behavior of both systems, being possible to conclude that the proposed system is sufficiently accurate and sensitive for operative purposes, apart from being significantly more affordable than the traditional one.Junta de Castilla y León y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (grant VA095P17 and VA228P20

Resultados Encuesta uso de simulaciones de CATIA V5 en problemas de Diseño de Máquinas

Resultados Encuesta uso de simulaciones de CATIA V5 en problemas de Diseño de MáquinasDepartamento de Ciencias de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica, Expresión Gráfica en la Ingeniería, Ingeniería Cartográfica, Geodesia y Fotogrametría, Ingeniería Mecánica e Ingeniería de los Procesos de Fabricació