VARIABLE APERTURE PHASED ARRAY INCORPORATING VEHICLE SWARM

• US 20150112518A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Brusniak, Leon, Underbrink, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/14 Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308

Abstract

In one aspect a system for acoustic testing comprises a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted to a plurality of vehicles, a control system to control the plurality of vehicles, and a data acquisition system to receive data generated by the plurality of acoustic sensors in response to noise from a noise source proximate the plurality of vehicles. Other aspects may be described.

Claims

1. A system for acoustic testing, comprising:

a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted to a plurality of vehicles;

a control system to control the plurality of vehicles; and

a data acquisition system to receive data generated by the plurality of acoustic sensors in response to noise from a noise source proximate the plurality of vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises at least one of a manned vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle, an unmanned water-based vehicle, or an unmanned ground-based vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein control system controls the plurality of vehicles to move into a first predetermined configuration in a first predetermined location in which the acoustic sensors form a first acoustic array having a first aperture size and a first spatial resolution.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first predetermined configuration positions the plurality of sensors in a first plane.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the control system controls the plurality of vehicles to move from the first predetermined configuration into a second predetermined configuration in which the acoustic sensors form a second acoustic array having a second aperture size and a second spatial resolution.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined configuration positions the plurality of sensors in a plurality of planes.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the control system further controls the plurality of vehicles to move from the first predetermined location to a second predetermined location, different from the first predetermined location.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the control system controls the plurality of vehicles to move to a predetermined location in response to a signal.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the control system controls the plurality of vehicles to move to a predetermined location in response to an environmental condition or a test condition.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the plurality of vehicles via a wireless communication interface.

11. A method for acoustic testing, comprising:

positioning a plurality of vehicles proximate a noise source, wherein the plurality of vehicles comprise a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted to a plurality of vehicles;

controlling the plurality of vehicles to move into a first predetermined configuration in a first predetermined location in which the acoustic sensors form a first acoustic array having a first aperture size and a first spatial resolution; and

receiving data generated by the plurality of acoustic sensors in response to noise from a noise source proximate the plurality of vehicles.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises at least one of a manned vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle, an unmanned water-based vehicle, or an unmanned ground-based vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined configuration positions the plurality of sensors in a first plane.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the plurality of vehicles from the first predetermined configuration into a second predetermined configuration in which the acoustic sensors form a second acoustic array having a second aperture size and a second spatial resolution.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second predetermined configuration positions the plurality of sensors in a plurality of planes.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the plurality of vehicles from the first predetermined location to a second predetermined location, different from the first predetermined location.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the plurality of vehicles to a predetermined location in response to a signal.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein further comprising moving the plurality of vehicles to a predetermined location in response to an environmental condition.

19. A method for acoustic testing, comprising:

positioning a plurality of unmanned air vehicles proximate an engine, wherein the plurality of unmanned air vehicles comprise a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted to a plurality of vehicles;

controlling the plurality of unmanned air vehicles to move into a first predetermined configuration in a first predetermined location in which the acoustic sensors form a first acoustic array having a first aperture size and a first spatial resolution; and

receiving data generated by the plurality of acoustic sensors in response to noise from the engine.