Development of a microphone array-based system for acoustic localization of signal sources for animal monitoring

Context

The Karlsruhe Zoo is working on breeding and protecting endangered species. In order to optimize the care of exotic animals, it is crucial that zookeepers and veterinarians have a precise understanding of the animals' behavior and adapt the environment and situations accordingly. We are continuously working on advanced data collection methods that are energy efficient and less stressful for the animals. Therefore, our focus is on the use of acoustics for data collection.

Targets

• Conceptual design and implementation of a microphone array.
• Implementation of a time synchronization method using audio signals.
• Implementation of specific algorithms to determine the position of audio signal sources.
• Inspection of accuracy, sensitivity and system limits.
• Evaluation of the designed microphone array system.

Requirements

• Programming Knowledge in Python or C/C++
• Basic knowledge of signal processing
• Interest in perception and localization
• Independent work