Automatic real-time gunshot locator and display system

In a system comprising a collection of acoustic sensors in communication with a signal processor, a method for locating a strong explosive event in a region containing explosive and impulsive sounds, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying from among acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensors a first signal from a first sensor, wherein the first signal exceeds an average noise level by a significant factor;
• if a first sharpness value of the first signal exceeds an initial sharpness threshold, then identifying from among the acoustic signals a second signal from a second sensor and a third signal from a third sensor, wherein the first, second, and third sensors are distinct from each other, and wherein the first sharpness value measures a degree to which an energy of the first signal abruptly and significantly rises above an average value;
• and
• if a second sharpness value of the second signal and a third sharpness value of the third signal both exceed a triangulation threshold that is less than the initial sharpness threshold, then calculating from the first, second, and third signals a location.

A system for locating an explosive event within a region, the system comprising:

• a collection of acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic signals, wherein the acoustic sensors are positioned at separate sensor locations within the region;
• and
• a signal processor in communication with the collection of acoustic sensors for locating the explosive event from the acoustic signals;
• wherein the signal processor performs the following steps:
• (a) examining the acoustic signals to identify first, second, and third sharp acoustic signals from distinct acoustic sensors, wherein the identified sharp acoustic signals have energies that rise abruptly and significantly above average values of the signals;
• (b) calculating a candidate location in the region by comparing the identified first, second, and third sharp acoustic signals;
• (c) examining the acoustic signals to identify a fourth sharp acoustic signal;
• and
• (d) if the fourth sharp acoustic signal was identified in (c) and satisfies a criterion that confirms the calculated candidate location, then reporting the candidate location.

A system for detecting and locating an explosive event within a region, the system comprising:

• a collection of acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic signals, wherein the acoustic sensors are positioned at separate sensor locations within the region;
• and
• a signal processor in communication with the collection of acoustic sensors for identifying and locating the explosive event from the acoustic signals;
• wherein the signal processor is programmed in accordance with the following steps:
• (a) examining the acoustic signals to identify a first set of three sharp acoustic signals from distinct acoustic sensors, wherein the first set of three sharp acoustic signals correspond to a first candidate gunshot event and have energies that rise abruptly and significantly above average values of the first set of signals;
• (b) calculating a first candidate location in the region by comparing the identified first set of three sharp acoustic signals with each other;
• (c) examining the acoustic signals to identify a second set of three sharp acoustic signals from distinct acoustic sensors, wherein the second set of three sharp acoustic signals correspond to a second candidate gunshot event and have energies that rise abruptly and significantly above average values of the second set of signals;
• (d) calculating a second candidate location in the region by comparing the identified second set of three sharp acoustic signals with each other, and calculating a difference between the first and second candidate locations;
• and
• (e) if the difference between the first candidate location and the second candidate location is less than a predetermined threshold, then reporting a confirmed explosive event.

A system for detecting and locating an explosive event within a region, the system comprising:

• a collection of acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic signals, wherein the acoustic sensors are positioned at separate sensor locations within the region;
• and
• a signal processor in communication with the collection of acoustic sensors for locating the explosive event from the acoustic signals;
• wherein the signal processor performs the following steps:
• (a) examining the acoustic signals to identify a set of triads, wherein each triad comprises three sharp acoustic signals from distinct acoustic sensors;
• (b) identifying for each triad a number of confirming signals from other acoustic sensors;
• (c) selecting a best triad from the set of triads, wherein the best triad has a largest number of confirming signals;
• (d) calculating a location in the region by comparing the three sharp acoustic signals of the best triad;
• and
• (e) reporting the calculated location.