Acoustic sensor has been around for many decades. It has wide range of applications such as distance detection, objects avoidance and tracking as well as surveillance terrains. One of the most common acoustic sensors is the Ultrasonic sensor. This is because the ultrasonic wave has the frequency more than 20 kHz, which is non-audible to human’s ears and not easy to detect.

This project’s main objective is to develop a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) add-in card to host an array of acoustic sensors. This means that a single user will control each sensor, which could update the user of its surrounding and alert him whenever the obstacles are too close along its path.

The project involves implementing both hardware and software logic design. Apart from designing the Ultrasonic sensors, interactions between each sensor to the PCI card also needs to be established. With the assistance of the Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) add in card on the PCI, data from each sensor can be collected and processed individually and accordingly to the user’s needs.

Automation has become the key feature in the modern world. As a result there has been significant development in the field of automations. The group believes that the project could one day be a part of this inevitable revolution .

Dr Peter Dower, Foo Ming-Hui, Suwat Jinungkul, Harin Silva, Dr Michael Cantoni