Focused Enhanced Acoustic-Driver Technologies (FEAT) for Long Range Non-Lethal Hail and Warn Capabilities

A novel driver and horn concepts are proposed which are able to meet the requirements of producing 123 dB or greater SPL output levels and will weigh less than 3 lbs.  An array of 8 driver and horn pairs is proposed to be integrated into an acoustic array which will incorporate adaptive beamforming and atmospheric compensation.  Phase I effort is outlined to prove the feasibility of an innovative approach the combines an efficient 125 mm neodymium cone driver that is optimized for max SPL and low mass with an innovative horn design that provides 8 sound reinforcing paths to provide 123 dB SPL at 1m with frequency range from 100 Hz – 2500 Hz.  The phase I technical effort includes significant modeling and simulation efforts to understand and optimize system performance.  Also included are several bench tests to understand and reduce risk for critical hardware components prior to prototype build in Phase II.  Additionally, software and hardware architectures will be designed and prototype code generated to prove the feasibility of increasing gain through beamforming, improving clarity/intelligibility and sound penetration at range through use of lower frequencies, and compensating for frequency dependent atmospheric losses through distance-based equalization.