Operating Ferret on a Patrol Boat

摘要

Ferret is an acoustic system that detects, recognizes and localizes the source and direction of small arms fire. The system comprises a small array of microphones and pressure sensors connected to a standard PC-104 computer that analyzes, displays, reports and logs the parameters of a recognized shot. The system operates by detecting and recognizing the ballistic shock waves created by the supersonic bullet, combined with the muzzle blast wave propagating from the weapon. The system was recently installed and tested on a patrol boat operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). An electronic compass with tilt compensation and a GPS was incorporated into the system. This allows the system to correct for the motion of the boat and provide the full coordinates of the shooter. The system also updates the azimuth to the shooter in real time as the boat turns. This paper presents the results of our test and evaluation based on a live firing experiment. Ferret is the result of a collaborative effort by Defence R&D Canada and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates.