Statement of the Problem

Background:

In a crowded room with many people conversing, it is virtually impossible to listen to any individual's voice clearly. Using an array of microphones along with the complementary hardware and software, it would be possible to eliminate noise from all unwanted directions. Through a user interface one will be able to choose a specific direction and listen to the sound coming from that direction only. Furthermore, by attaching a high-pitch sound generator (a bug) to a person, it would be possible to locate the person and listen to the sound coming from that location only.

The Design:

In order to listen to voice coming from an specific direction, our team will employ eight omnidirectional microphones and a personal computer through which the specific direction is chosen.  The user will be able to indicate his/her dersired direction by entering it into the user interface.  The system, then, will perform the required mathematical calculations and will adjust the microphones and the complementory hardware to tune into that specific direction only.  The voice coming from undesired dirctions will be filtered out by the system. 

Furthermore, a bug will be used to locate and listen to the voice coming from the location of the bug.  The bug will be generating a high pitch sound which will not be audible by human ear.  The SVTS, however, is able to pick up this sound and consequently locate the location of the bug.  The next step will be the same as above, the SVTS will tune in to taht specific location and will filter out the noise from all other unwanted directions.  

The Deliverables:

The deliverables are listed below:

• Hardware:
• eight omnidirectional microphones
• personal computer
• necessary circutary (including converters, amplifiers, etc)
• Software:
• user interface installed on the PC