Demonstration of novel high-power acoustic through-the-wall sensor

Franklin Felber

doi:10.1117/12.2084056

14 May 2015 Demonstration of novel high-power acoustic through-the-wall sensor

Franklin Felber

Proceedings Volume 9456, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement XIV; 945603 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084056
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2015, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

A high-power acoustic sensor, capable of detecting and tracking persons through steel walls of cargo containers, trailer truck bodies, and train cars, has been developed and demonstrated. The sensor is based on a new concept for narrowband mechanical-impact acoustic transmitters and matched resonant receivers. The lightweight, compact, and low-cost transmitters produce high-power acoustic pulses at one or more discrete frequencies with little input power. The energy for each pulse is accumulated over long times at low powers, like a mousetrap, and therefore can be operated with ordinary batteries and no power conditioning. A breadboard impact-transmitter and matched-receiver system that detected human motion through thick walls with only rudimentary signal processing is described, and results are presented. A conceptual design is presented of an acoustic through-the-wall sensor, costing about $10,000 per unit and capable of remotely and non-intrusively scanning steel cargo containers for stowaways at a rate of two containers per minute. Advantages of acoustic through-the-wall sensors over radar are: Sound penetrates metal walls; and acoustic sensors are sensitive to small and slow motions, and so can detect stationary persons by breathing motion alone. Other attractive features include: high-resolution locating and tracking; portability; low cost; quick and easy preparation and deployment; and near-real-time data processing and display. These features provide a robust stand-alone through-the-wall surveillance capability or an excellent complement to a radar sensor.

Citation Download Citation

Franklin Felber "Demonstration of novel high-power acoustic through-the-wall sensor", Proc. SPIE 9456, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement XIV, 945603 (14 May 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084056

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available