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| Project Title | Implementation of real time Beamforming algorithms using High Performance Computing |
| Summary | The position will allow the intern students to perform research work on an already build circular microphone array system by implementing sequential and parallel beamforming algorithms using Matlab. The student shall implement, test, optimize, and validate the designed software on a real hardware interface system. The system composed of the circular array hardware and the implemented software algorithms will allow us to perform acoustic beamforming, which will enhance acoustic signals arriving from a particular location (signal of interest) meanwhile cancelling other signals arriving from other locations (interferences) as well as minimizing the background noise. |
| Job Description | This internship will allow the intern students to implement, test, practice, and optimize real time parallel beamforming algorithms based on two types of microphone circular array hardware systems, which are already built and available at our campus. The first array comprises eight unidirectional microphones built on top of a 6 feet pole. The second array is built on a circular wooden base, ready to be placed in the center of a meeting table. Both arrays include signal conditioning hardware and an acquisition PCI card on a T5400 dell computer. Algorithms and architecture: in the first phase, the students will implement classic beamforming algorithms (MVDR, DL-MVDR, and more) and newly developed algorithms (CBSES proposed by Vicente in 2009, and more) in Matlab. The algorithms will be implemented both in sequential and parallel computing architectures. The algorithms speed, accuracy and robustness will be first tested with computer simulated signals. In the second phase, the tests will be performed on the real time signals acquired from the circular arrays. Here we will validate our theoretical assumptions, and/or improve the algorithms to take into account the new factors associated with real acoustic signals on a particular environmental conditions. The final goal of the project is to test the pole mounted array in an open field to enhance directional sound sources (conversations, music, sound events) and reject unwanted directional sounds (from other locations) as well as the background acoustic noise. The second table-top array will be tested on a meeting room with several speakers talking at once where the beamformer will enhance a single speaker acoustic signal meanwhile cancelling the other speaker sound sources and the background noise. Scientific application: the application of acoustic beamforming include, border security, parking enhancing security, real time location of dangerous acoustic events in a crowded population area, as well as waiting room acoustic surveillance (airports, Immigration rooms) and conference meeting rooms. In a not too far future, very sophisticated and distributed beamforming (ceiling) systems will allow speakers (politics, presenters, etc) of large venues, as well as music performers, to be free of hand-held microphones but their voices will be clearly heard even if the move around the stage or turn around. |
| Conditions/Qualifications | - EE, CS, or CE bachelor student. - Matlab programming knowledge. - Desirable programming knowledge of C/C++. - No need to know beamforming or array processing knowledge. - Must reside in the San Juan, PR area. |
| Start Date | 06/01/2011 |
| End Date | 06/01/2012 |
| Location | Polytecnic University of Puerto Rico |
| Interns | Fernando Trallero
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