Ground observation and transmission loss modeling of maneuvering aerial vehicle via acoustic attenuation model for aerial vehicle

Abstract An acoustic attenuation model for aerial vehicle (AATMAV) is designed to estimate the transmission loss (TL) of the acoustic signal generated by a maneuvering aerial vehicle (AV). For estimation of TL, major attenuating factors of the acoustical signal are considered. Field experiments are performed using a single ground and airborne acoustic sensor to acquire the acoustic signals. Four different experiments are conducted where two different micro aerial vehicles are flown during different time of the day. The experimental results are compared with the TL estimated by the model. Good agreement between the model estimation and experimental results is observed over all four experiments. The results of the model allow us to use the model for controlled generation of simulated data sets for design and test of algorithms for detection, localization and motion parameter estimation of maneuvering aerial vehicle. The acoustic radiation directivity of AV is also measured in azimuth and elevation plane, and results convey that radiation pattern is almost omni-directional in both the planes.