Estimation of multiple sound source directions using artificial robot ears

This paper proposes an ear-based estimation (localization) system using two artificial robot ears, each consisting of a spiral-shaped pinna and two microphones, for application in humanoid robots. Four microphones are asymmetrically placed on the left and right sides of the head. The proposed localization algorithm is based on a spatially mapped generalized cross-correlation function which is transformed from the time domain to the space domain by using a measured inter-channel time difference map. For validation of the proposed localization method, two experiments (single- and multiple-source cases) were conducted using male speech. In the case of a single source, with the exception of laterally biased sources, the localization was achieved with an error of less than 10°. In a multiple-source environment, one source was fixed at the front side and the other source changed its direction; from the experimental results, the error rates on the localization of the fixed and varying sources are 0% and 36.9% respectively within an error bound of 15°.