Advances in Technology to Support Battlefield Acoustic Sensing.

摘要

It is not likely that better programming, slightly faster chips, or greater memory will advance the utility of current battlefield acoustic systems very much. Now is a good time to look at how new technology breakthroughs might form the basis for battlefield 'acoustics' in the future. Indeed, the conflict in Iraq has once again proven the utility of acoustic sensors on the battlefield and has justified much of our past work. Software developments of the past decade coupled with small powerful computers have revived the old artillery location type systems of the past. These systems build on a basic principle of surveillance and reconnaissance used by every grunt and hunter since the beginning of time. Use the ears to detect and localize a target, then use the eyes for identification of the target and final aim point. This basic concept has always been recognized; only recently have we been able to implement the process in a machine. There are still opportunities to tweak the algorithms for target ID, etc. but this will result in small incremental improvement at best. In this talk, I will talk about the future. What do we bring to the battlefield of 30 years from now that will provide the soldier with the same opportunities to win that the mortar location array and sniper system have brought to the current conflicts. The challenge here is not so much the computers or algorithms as it is materials and micromachining that approach mother nature. We will have to package our physics differently and take advantage of the huge strides in micro and nano machining to continue to provide out soldiers a technological advantage.