Real-time FPGA-based Sound Source Localization

Sound source localization (SSL) allows accurate location detection through sound signals in various applications. This work proposes an SSL method implemented on FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) technology using the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) algorithm. The FPGA's high computational power and low latency facilitate rapid sound processing, enhancing the efficiency of SSL systems. The system employs strategically placed sound sensors to capture and analyze the time difference and computed angle processed on the DE1-SoC FPGA. The experiment used an input sound of 80 dB with a sound frequency range of 2.2 to 2.8 kHz. The results show that the accuracy of the FPGA is higher than the oscilloscope by having a smaller average angle error of +/- 2.29 degrees (97.46% accuracy) compared to +/- 6.46 degrees (92.82% accuracy). Overall, this study contributes to the practical use of FPGA technology in enhancing acoustic signal processing capabilities.