Award Date
5-1-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
First Committee Member
Peter Stubberud
Second Committee Member
Ebrahim Saberinia
Third Committee Member
Henry Selvaraj
Fourth Committee Member
Woosoon Yim
Number of Pages
159
Abstract
This thesis investigates the integration of a parametric speaker with a microphone array to enhance the echolocation of objects. A parametric speaker focuses ultrasonic and audible waves in a specified direction. This endows the parametric speaker with the capacity to focus waves across a wide frequency spectrum enabling adaptation of the frequency to environmental considerations.Beam forming allows one to focus a microphone array in a specified direction. The thesis investigates different microphone array configurations for the purpose of enhancing the echolocation ability of an echolocation device. The primary goal of the thesis is the construction and testing of an echolocation device that uses a parametric speaker and a microphone array. The thesis describes construction parameters as well as potential improvements. Alongside the physical device are algorithms that interpret an echo’s signature that the microphone array captures. The thesis describes the algorithms that it employs. Testing includes measurement of the outgoing beam width, echolocation of a single object within the outgoing beam, and echolocation of multiple objects within the beam. Results indicate successes and failures of the device and associated algorithms. The failures point to improvements for further research.
Keywords
Echolocation; Microphone Array; Parametric Speaker
Disciplines
Acoustics, Dynamics, and Controls | Electrical and Computer Engineering
File Format
File Size
1757 KB
Degree Grantor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Repository Citation
Mazer, Arthur, "El, A Navigational Assistant Based Upon Echolocation" (2025). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 5309.
https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/5309
Rights
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