Navigation using acoustic cues in complex indoor environments

Abstract

Navigation is a common task in virtual 3D environments. In most scenarios, people navigate to an object using visual cues. However, acoustic cues are also reliable and even critical in navigation and spatial awareness. Acoustic cues are able to deliver information about the space, such as outdoor or indoor environments, and the size of the room. Additionally, acoustic cues can provide information about events happening outside the field of view. This thesis constructed a geometrical acoustic system in a complex, maze-like geometry. Tests were done on 10 subjects and 10 mazes with 2 different types of sounds. These subjects were asked to navigate to the sound source using acoustic cues only. The feasibility and accuracy of this system are shown.