Acoustic Direction Determination
H. J. Bugajski, James H. Prout · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1957
A method has been devised to automatically compute and display the azimuth of an acoustic signal generating source. Three sensors are arranged in a given pattern so that a signal wave front traversing the pattern from any direction becomes part of a mathematical function with respect to time. The signals as obtained from the sensors are converted to time pulses and fed to three respective delay lines to which are connected many coincidence channels. The output of each coincidence channel is fed to a display board which designates the given azimuth of the signal wave front. Limited experimentation has shown that a narrow beam system, less than five degrees, is feasible. The system is not frequency sensitive below a given upper limit determined by the spacing of the sensors. The proposed method suggests many possible uses from a single directional unit to an elaborate omnidirectional system. Where a passive omnidirectional detection unit is desired, the time pulses from three sensors could be transmitted by wire or radio to the master computing unit and display some distance away. (Parts of this research were supported by Tri-service Contract No. DA-36-039-sc-52654.)