An embedded environment sensing device based on the ARM processor

Abstract

Compared to other countries around the globe, Singapore is a small and relatively densely populated one with an average of 7,829 residents per square kilometres of land area. However, as we become more urbanized and densely populated, noise cannot be avoided nor overlooked as it affects the quality of our daily lives.

Defined as unwanted sound, noise is a public nuisance which has adverse effects on human beings such as concentration problems and faster exhaustion. Sustained exposure to high levels of noise may even cause temporary or permanent loss of hearing. Furthermore, as we continue to dabble in technology and grow as a modern mechanized world, the need to cancel disturbing noise also help reduce stress imposed by vibrations on mechanical structures especially e.g. Engines, Cars and many other noisy machineries. Therefore, in-depth understanding and research into noise control and their performance is significantly important to a small urbanised state like Singapore.

The key contribution of the system is that not only is the embedded environment sensing device modular and scalable at low-cost but with high fidelity. High precision analog-to-digital converters (ADC) are expensive, but the ICS43432 are digital microphones built in ADC. Furthermore, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) on the myRIO can handle up to 16 Direct Memory Access (DMA) First in First Out (FIFO) channels. A range of applications for this system would include acoustic camera for far-field sound sources, and in this project, the application of analysing sound patterns across an opening to understanding the characteristics of the noise entering an opening.