An Investigation into the Use of Inexpensive Audio Equipment as a Method of Real-time 3D Sound Source Localization

Sound source localization has many applications in a wide range of areas. Time Delay Estimation (TDE) has been the main approach used to solve this problem. However, current research and commercial products are either inaccurate or too expensive. The fact is, the more accurate the device the higher the price. Our research is focused on the key problem behind this dilemma: the resolution problem. We are trying to use devices designed for vocal voice recording to solve the sound localization problem. We have to achieve high precision based on the limited precision of the devices through estimation algorithms. We set our goal to obtain the same results as a more expensive commercial product, but at one tenth of the price. Our experiments show that we are very close to that goal. Another stream of our research was a trial to develop a complete and inexpensive real-time 3D localization system based on energy propagation. However, that system did not end up satisfying expectations. Therefore, we conclude that, it is very likely that the TDE resolution on inexpensive devices can reach the level which is usually required for expensive devices; while the energy propagation based approach is not a good path for further exploration.