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Evolution: 🖕 (infosec.pub)

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[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

🛰️ Raytheon CAT&EAR System

Cybernetic Auditory Telemetry & Echolocation with Anisotropic Reception

Engineering Requirements Draft — v1.0

📑 Document Overview

This document outlines the full set of engineering requirements for the CAT&EAR system, a wearable, cybernetic auditory perception platform. CAT&EAR is a heterogeneous, phased-array auditory sensor suite that uses biomimetic design, ultrasonic telemetry, laser vibrometry, and advanced audio signal processing to enable real-time environmental awareness and communication.

The system is designed to operate autonomously, using only open standards and open-source software, while supporting embedded AI-driven perceptual functions. This document reflects both functional and non-functional requirements for CAT&EAR across all relevant subsystems.

The CAT&EAR system (Cybernetic Auditory Telemetry & Echolocation with Anisotropic Reception) is a next-generation, wearable auditory intelligence platform designed for advanced signal perception, real-time environmental awareness, and covert communication. It leverages a biomimetic ear design combined with a heterogeneous microphone array—featuring diverse diaphragms and directional acoustic profiles—to form an asynchronous, non-planar phased array. This allows it to isolate, enhance, and track psychoacoustically relevant audio sources with high spatial precision, even in noisy or cluttered environments. Real-time beamforming, signal classification, and source switching are handled off-device via open-source DSP pipelines, ensuring low latency (≤20 ms) and full operational transparency.

In addition to traditional sound acquisition, CAT&EAR incorporates ultrasonic echolocation and laser vibrometry, enabling through-wall audio surveillance and remote surface vibration analysis using IR/RED laser beams with microprism-guided targeting. The system includes a covert ultrasonic communication channel, allowing encrypted, inaudible data exchange between units—ideal for non-verbal team coordination. Myoelectric sensors and sub-vocal command inputs provide silent, intuitive control interfaces for users, allowing manual beam steering or hands-free selection of tracked sound sources. Ear motion actuators and a visible/infrared laser pointer visually indicate attention direction, enhancing situational awareness without audible cues.

Field usage scenarios include reconnaissance, electronic surveillance, remote eavesdropping, low-visibility communication, and audio-based environmental mapping in both urban and wilderness environments. The system is optimized for silent operation, rapid deployment, and open hardware integration. All processing occurs locally or on an open compute platform (e.g., Raspberry Pi), with no reliance on proprietary software or cloud infrastructure. With up to 12-channel live transcription, digital audio decoding, 4TB onboard storage, and support for all major codecs, CAT&EAR serves both tactical intelligence roles and high-end experimental research in audio-based perception systems.

System requirements

🎤 Microphone Array & Acoustic Sensors

Mic Diaphragm Diversity – Use MEMS and larger diaphragm mics.
Earshape Mic Placement – Place mics at parabolic acoustic focus points.
Ultrasound Transceivers – Include US sensors for echolocation and darksight.
Ultrasound Data Comms – Use US transceivers for covert device communication.
Heterogeneous Phased Array – Mic array shall be non-planar and diverse.
Frequency-Profile Diversity – Use mics with different frequency sensitivities.
Anisotropic Reception – Account for directional response patterns from ear shape.
Psychoacoustic Focus – Detect and prioritize perceptually relevant signals.
Mic Cross-Correlation – Synchronize all mic data spatially and temporally.
Real-Time Acoustic Map – Build a 3D sound map from multi-mic input.
Mic Calibration Pattern – Provide physical pattern for mic array calibration.
Open Hardware Calibration – Use only open hardware for calibration tools.

🧭 Ultrasonic Subsystem

Ultrasound Mapping – Perform echolocation for 3D environmental awareness.
True Transceiver Mode – Ultrasound sensors must transmit and receive.
Ultrasound Band Amp – Include amplifier suitable for US transmission.
Covert US Communication – Transmit data in inaudible US band.
Spatial Mapping via US – Derive positional data from ultrasound TOF.

👂 Ear Shape & Actuation

Dynamic Ear Focus – Use moving ear shapes to focus sound.
Servo Actuated Ears – Use servos to reorient ears toward signals.
Double Helical Gears – Use quiet gears for mechanical actuation.
Acoustic Dampened Gears – Coat gears to suppress audible reflections.
Ultrasonic Motors Preferred – Prefer silent ultrasonic motors over gears.
Backwards Reception – Ears must support rearward sound reception.
Flexible Ear Shaping – Shape ear surfaces dynamically for beam control.
Motion-Linked Focus – Ear movement must track beamforming direction.
No Mechanical Noise Leakage – Prevent gear vibration from reaching mics.

📡 Communication & Connectivity

Wi-Fi + BLE Only – Support open wireless; no DECT or proprietary links.
Open Standard Protocols – Use only open protocols for communication.
Multichannel Audio Streaming – Support multiple audio streams over network.
Driverless Operation – Require no proprietary drivers for functionality.

🧠 Software & Signal Processing

Open Source Only – All code and firmware must be fully open source.
Offloaded Processing – All signal processing handled off-device.
Max 20ms Latency – Entire processing pipeline must be under 20ms.
Live Beamforming – Perform real-time signal steering and separation.
Real-Time Source Relevance – Continuously rank sources by importance.
Noise vs Signal Detection – Separate noise from structured signals.
Real-Time Source Switching – Auto-switch auditory focus intelligently.
Plug-and-Play Sensor Config – Support hot-swappable or modular sensors.
Onboard Sub-Vocal Control – Allow silent vocal commands for control.

🎧 Earbuds / Audio Output

Canal Mic Feedback Loop – Use in-ear mics for real-time output correction.
Open Firmware Audio Chain – Use programmable amps with open firmware.
Drive Adaptation by Feedback – Earbud output adjusts based on canal feedback.

🎮 Control Interfaces

Myoelectric Input Support – Accept muscle signals as control input.
Manual Steering Mode – One ear for beam steering via myoelectric input.
Signal Selection Mode – One ear for selecting tracked signal via input.
Sub-Vocal Command Mode – Use throat activity to control high-level tasks.

🔦 Laser Pointer System

Dual Laser Module – Use both red (visible) and IR (covert) lasers.
Laser Aiming Reflects Beam – Beam direction matches acoustic focus.
IR Laser for Stealth – IR laser used to show focus discreetly.

🧾 Transcription & Recognition

Live Audio Transcription – Convert incoming audio to live text.
12 Channel Transcription – Handle at least 12 simultaneous streams.
MP3QR & Digital Decoding – Decode digital audio formats in real time.
Live Text Summarization – Generate summaries from live transcripts.
Voice Signature Tagging – Identify and label speakers in text.

💾 Storage

4TB Local Storage – Minimum onboard capacity of 4 terabytes.

⚖️ Physical & Power

≤150g Head Weight – Total device weight must not exceed 150g (no battery).
1-Min No-Battery Buffer – Must operate 1 minute without battery power.
Dual Battery Swap – Hot-swap batteries without power loss.

🎛️ Audio Encoding & Codecs

HW Audio Codec Support – Hardware encoder/decoder for all ffmpeg codecs. 🧱 System Design Principles
Modular Hardware – All subsystems must be physically modular.
User Privacy by Default – All processing must be local and secure.
No Cloud Dependency – System must function entirely offline.
Mainline Linux Support – Fully supported by Linux kernel and stack.
Open Protocol APIs – All I/O and control must use open APIs.

🛡️ Counter-Acoustic Defense

Passive Threat Detection – Detect and localize hostile audio sources.
Acoustic Counter-Battery – Track and indicate direction of intrusive signals.

🧪 Fallback & Safety

Failsafe Passive Mode – Fall back to passive listening if system fails.

🌡️ Environment & Durability

Passive Cooling Only – No fans; silent passive thermal control only.
Water-Resistant Design – Use hydrophobic materials for exterior protection.

🧰 Maintenance & Testability

Open Test Fixtures – All testing hardware must be reproducible and open.
Self-Test & Calibration – System must run periodic self-alignment checks.
Community Repairable – Designed to be easily maintained by users.

🔗 Licensing

Fully Open Licensed – All hardware, firmware, and software must use open licenses.

🔦 Laser Microphone Capability

Laser Mic via Microprism – Dual laser system shall include a microprism to enable laser microphone functionality.
Aimed Surface Listening – System shall capture audio from vibrating surfaces (e.g. windows, walls) via laser beam reflection.
Covert Through-Wall Listening – IR laser + sensor must support long-range audio pickup from remote surfaces without line-of-sight audio.

✅ Summary

Total Requirements: 76
System Class: Wearable, cybernetic, audio perception platform
Design Goals: Open-source, real-time, stealth-capable, user-repairable