A method for recognizing a noise represented in a receive signal of an ultrasonic sensor. A characteristic spectrum of the noise is compared with a noise spectrum of the receive signal, the noise spectrum including at least two noise levels determined in different frequency bands of the receive signal.

Methods and devices for detecting movement of an object includes: receiving a first set of output signal values and a second set of output signal values from a sound wave receiver, each output signal value in the first set and the second set being representative of amplitude of an acoustic signal reflected from the object; determining, based on the received first set and second set, a difference set including one or more difference values, each of the one or more difference values being representative of a difference between a first output signal value in the first set and a second output signal value in the second set; determining whether the difference set satisfies a predetermined condition based on whether each difference value of the difference set has a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold; and outputting a motion detection signal if the difference set satisfies the predetermined condition.

Systems and methods for enhanced blazed array and/or phased array sonar systems are described herein. In one aspect, a sonar system includes a blazed sonar array and/or phased sonar array having: at least one transducer connected to a housing of a vehicle; a transmitter, in electrical communication with the at least one transducer, causing the transducer to emit at least one sonar signal, the sonar signal having a Doppler sharpening pulse length and the vehicle having a Doppler sharpening velocity; a receiver, in electrical communication with the at least one transducer, for receiving signals from at least one transducer, the received signals corresponding to acoustic signals captured by the at least one transducer; and a processor, in electrical communication with the transmitter and receiver, arranged to control the Doppler sharpening pulse length and generate a 3D image based on the received signals, Doppler sharpening pulse length, and Doppler sharpening velocity.

This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for unobtrusive and automated detection of frequencies of spatially located distinct parts of a machine. Location of vibration and detection of vibration frequency of each vibrating part in a machine is critical for routine monitoring and fault detection in the machine. Current solutions use either high frames per second (fps) industrial grade camera or stroboscopes tuned at one particular frequency. Manual stroboscopes require manual intervention for objects moving at different speeds with high convergence time. Point-lasers need prior knowledge of exact location of faults. Also Point-by-point scanning of a large machine body is time consuming. In the present disclosure, a movement detector such as RADAR enables detecting all vibration frequencies that also serve to reduce the search space of a stroboscope configured to start strobing at each detected vibration frequency to enable mapping of each vibration frequency to a corresponding vibrating part.

This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for unobtrusive and automated detection of frequencies of spatially located distinct parts of a machine. Location of vibration and detection of vibration frequency of each vibrating part in a machine is critical for routine monitoring and fault detection in the machine. Current solutions use either high frames per second (fps) industrial grade camera or stroboscopes tuned at one particular frequency. Manual stroboscopes require manual intervention for objects moving at different speeds with high convergence time. Point-lasers need prior knowledge of exact location of faults. Also Point-by-point scanning of a large machine body is time consuming. In the present disclosure, a movement detector such as RADAR enables detecting all vibration frequencies that also serve to reduce the search space of a stroboscope configured to start strobing at each detected vibration frequency to enable mapping of each vibration frequency to a corresponding vibrating part.

A method comprising: providing an autonomous vehicle (AV) with a first estimated position of a target; directing the AV to travel toward the first estimated position at a constant velocity; receiving echo signals of transmitted sonar signals, the echo signals indicating a range and an azimuth of the target; determining a depth difference of the AV and the target based on the received echo signals, the depth difference being determined based on changes to the range and azimuth of the target over time; and in response to a depth difference existing, re-directing the AV toward a second estimated position of the target generated from the depth difference.

A method classifies dynamic or static objects in a surrounding area with a control device. Sound echoes are generated by at least one sensor over a defined time period. The sound echoes are emitted into the surrounding area, and are detected by the at least one sensor in order to acquire measurement data. The measurement data of the at least one sensor are received by the control device. The received measurement data are recorded in a two-dimensional array. At least one echo trace is extracted from the array. A relative speed of the detected sound echoes with respect to the at least one sensor is determined using a derivative over time of the measurement data of the array. The at least one echo trace is classified based on the determined relative speed.

A method classifies dynamic or static objects in a surrounding area with a control device. Sound echoes are generated by at least one sensor over a defined time period. The sound echoes are emitted into the surrounding area, and are detected by the at least one sensor in order to acquire measurement data. The measurement data of the at least one sensor are received by the control device. The received measurement data are recorded in a two-dimensional array. At least one echo trace is extracted from the array. A relative speed of the detected sound echoes with respect to the at least one sensor is determined using a derivative over time of the measurement data of the array. The at least one echo trace is classified based on the determined relative speed.

A motion-sensitive acoustic speaker may include a housing; a transmitter associated with the housing, a receiver associated with the housing, a interface component associated with the housing, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to: cause the transmitter to emit a first motion detection signal having an active phase and an idle phase; detect movement in an environment of the primary motion-sensitive acoustic speaker; cause a change in a state of the interface component in response to detection of movement in the environment of the motion-sensitive acoustic speaker; detect a presence of a secondary motion-sensitive acoustic speaker in the environment of the motion sensitive acoustic speaker; determine an idle period associated with the idle phase of the second motion detection signal during which a transmitter associated with the secondary motion-sensitive acoustic speaker is not actively transmitting; and cause the transmitter of the motion-sensitive acoustic speaker to emit the first motion detection signal such that the active phase of the first motion detection signal occurs within the idle period.

Various implementations include a personal sonar system sized to be worn on a body of a user. In some cases, the system includes: at least one acoustic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic signals into an environment proximate the user; at least two acoustic receivers for receiving return ultrasonic signals from the environment proximate the user; a directional indication system for providing a directional output to the user; and a controller coupled with the at least one transmitter, the at least two acoustic receivers, and the directional indication system, the controller configured to: identify a physical object within the environment proximate the user based on the return ultrasonic signals; and initiate the directional output at the directional indication system based on the identified physical object within the environment.