Journal article
A Probabilistic Model for Robust Localization Based on a Binaural Auditory Front-End
Although extensive research has been done in the field of machine-based localization, the degrading effect of reverberation and the presence of multiple sources on localization performance has remained a major problem. Motivated by the ability of the human auditory system to robustly analyze complex acoustic scenes, the associated peripheral stage is used in this paper as a front-end to estimate the azimuth of sound sources based on binaural signals.
One classical approach to localize an acoustic source in the horizontal plane is to estimate the interaural time difference (ITD) between both ears by searching for the maximum in the cross-correlation function. Apart from ITDs, the interaural level difference (ILD) can contribute to localization, especially at higher frequencies where the wavelength becomes smaller than the diameter of the head, leading to ambiguous ITD information.
The interdependency of ITD and ILD on azimuth is a complex pattern that depends also on the room acoustics, and is therefore learned by azimuth-dependent Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). Multiconditional training is performed to take into account the variability of the binaural features which results from multiple sources and the effect of reverberation.
The proposed localization model outperforms state-of-the-art localization techniques in simulated adverse acoustic conditions.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | IEEE |
Year: | 2011 |
Pages: | 1-13 |
ISSN: | 15587924 and 15587916 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1109/TASL.2010.2042128 |
Auditory system Azimuth Degradation Ear Frequency Gaussian mixture models Gaussian processes Humans Layout Localization Reverberation Robustness Signal analysis acoustic source localisation associated peripheral stage audio signal processing auditory scene analysis (ASA) binaural binaural auditory front-end correlation methods cross-correlation function estimation theory human auditory system interaural level difference interaural level difference (ILD) interaural time difference interaural time difference (ITD) localization performance machine-based localization probabilistic model probability reverberation robust localization sound sources