Acoustic Detection from Aerial Balloon Platform

Abstract

The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and US Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) are leading the research and development in autonomous sensing and sensor networks for the Networked Sensors for the Future Force (NSfFF) and Future Combat System (FCS). With the emphasis being shifted to lighter and more mobile forces, ARL and NVESD have been collaborating and exploring various mobile platforms such as robotic vehicles and aerial platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and balloons. Our most immediate collaboration focuses on the use of acoustic sensors on small balloons and/or aerostats at several elevations and on the ground with the primary goals of: (i) investigate the acoustic sensing and detection ranges; (ii) acoustically cue IR imagers and/or video cameras; and (iii) explore the networking of elevated sensors and ground sensors for NSfFF. In this paper, we only focus on the first goal, the acoustic detection portion of the collaborative effort.