This Week’s Progress:
- Roshni built a full software (Python/NumPy/SciPy) reference model of the delay-sum beamforming pipeline to verify the algorithm before committing to RTL. Validated against simulated sources at known angles, correctly resolving direction to within the test setup’s 2° resolution limit, and confirmed that a lower-precision (fixed-point-like) version performs just as accurately as full precision.
- Wes researched 32-mic array geometries, produced the Fusion360 Electronics schematic (.scr) for the custom PCB, and updated the materials/peripherals list for components interfacing with the Ultra96-V2 (camera, LCD display, etc.).
- Essie built and validated the camera capture pipeline, achieving stable ~30fps live capture with fps logging and automatic frame saving.
Risks & Mitigation:
The main risk is cross-subsystem dependency timing: the beamforming reference model, PCB array geometry, and camera/overlay work all make assumptions (angle count, mic spacing, steering range, output format) that need to converge before integration. We’re mitigating this by having each piece proceed independently against placeholder/mock values now (Roshni’s model uses a placeholder passband, Essie’s overlay work will use mock beamforming output) so no one is blocked waiting on another’s final numbers. We’ll reconcile assumptions once Wes’s PCB geometry is finalized. Secondary risk: hardware not yet in hand (camera, fpga, fabricated PCB), mitigated by validating all logic in software/on substitute hardware first.
Design Changes:
We narrowed the camera/array steering range from a full 180° sweep to a 60–70° forward cone. This was necessary because 180° coverage would require a fisheye lens (adding lens distortion calibration work) and would strain the per-angle cycle budget on the FPGA side. Cost: reduced single-position coverage, making the tool more of a “point-and-scan” device rather than a full-room scanner. This is mitigated by the fact that it matches how commercial acoustic cameras are actually used in the field, and it simplifies both camera selection (standard FOV) and the beamforming compute budget — a net simplification, not a scope loss.
Schedule: On track — no changes to the timeline this week.