Sound Source Localization Based on Multi-Channel Cross-Correlation Weighted Beamforming

Abstract

Beamforming and its applications in steered-response power (SRP) technology, such as steered-response power delay and sum (SRP-DAS) and steered-response power phase transform (SRP-PHAT), are widely used in sound source localization. However, their resolution and accuracy still need improvement. A novel beamforming method combining SRP and multi-channel cross-correlation coefficient (MCCC), SRP-MCCC, is proposed in this paper to improve the accuracy of direction of arrival (DOA). Directional weight (DW) is obtained by calculating the MCCC. Based on DW, suppressed the non-incoming wave direction and gained the incoming wave direction to improve the beamforming capabilities. Then, sound source localizations based on the dual linear array under different conditions were simulated. Compared with SRP-PHAT, SRP-MCCC has the advantages of high positioning accuracy, strong spatial directivity and robustness under the different signal–noise ratios (SNRs). When the SNR is −10 dB, the average positioning error of the single-frequency sound source at different coordinates decreases by 5.69%, and that of the mixed frequency sound sources at the same coordinate decreases by 5.77%. Finally, the experimental verification was carried out. The results show that the average error of SRP-MCCC has been reduced by 8.14% and the positioning accuracy has been significantly improved, which is consistent with the simulation results. This research provides a new idea for further engineering applications of sound source localization based on beamforming.

Minimum Variance Distortionless Response—Hanbury Brown and Twiss Sound Source Localization

“…The time delay difference localization method [18,19] is computationally efficient and easy to implement, but the accuracy of the algorithm is highly dependent on the topology of the microphone array, and the accuracy of time delay estimation affects the position estimation. The controllable beamforming method [20][21][22][23], with the SRP (steered response power) algorithm being the most famous example [24,25], is based on the idea of weighting the output of each element and summing them together while directing the array beam to the same direction at the same time to give the direction where the expected signal achieves the maximum output power, thus achieving sound source localization. However, this method has a large computational cost and is not suitable for real-time localization.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue on Flexible and Wearable Sensors

“…In this Special Issue on Flexible and Wearable Sensors, we have included 25 papers, including 24 research papers, covering applications in human-computer interaction [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], mechanical design [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], health monitoring [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], manufacturing technology [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], algorithms [ 21 , 22 , 23 ], and smart cities [ 24 ]. Additionally, we feature an intriguing review paper focusing on flexible wearable sensor devices for biomedical applications [ 25 ].…”