A Real-Time Audio Telepresence Device for Remote Acoustic Monitoring

The Phase I research effort delivered a fully functional wired binaural microphone prototype capable of providing realistic hearing capabilities to a remotely located soldier. Building on the successful completion of Phase I, the Phase II developmenteffort will refine the current design, add enhanced hearing features, and deliver two wireless binaural microphone systems to the Army. The Phase II technical objectives and work tasks focus on building and testing the final system by dividing the projectinto three major design elements including: i) implementation of enhanced hearing capabilities and refined system accuracy, ii) creating highly accurate remote audio signals and their wireless delivery via a machine-to-soldier digital audio interface andiii) achieving cost effective and accurate head position measurement and wireless remote system control for real-time sound source localization via a soldier-to-machine data interface. The multi-disciplinary approach required by the proposed design isfacilitated by a strong technical team and the use of high-tech COTS hardware designed to accomplish specific design goals in head tracking, motion control, and wireless communications, resulting in cost effective development with reduced time tomarket.The proposed Phase II program will provide the Army with two fully functional wireless binaural microphone systems for remote acoustic monitoring. The advanced design resulting from the Phase I development has ensured a successful Phase IImanufacturable system. The resulting product will offer new opportunities for hearing research, remote, real-time listening of live audio entertainment, remote audio intelligence, surveillance, and rescue, as well as applications in Future Combat Systemsemploying autonomously deployed vehicles.