Android acoustic ranging

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of a mobile application (app) for acoustic ranging developed for the Android platform. The ranging strategy used is an extension of the Microsoft Windows based BeepBeep method. Using only the speaker and microphone hardware supplied with commercial Android devices, indoor ranging precision under a 0.1 centimeter variance has been achieved at distances up to 4.5 meters. In addition, preliminary outdoor tests show accuracy at distances as large as 50 meters when there is a strong line of sight component. The app has been designed to be an accessible and customizable tool for educational and research applications, and features options for optimizing its accuracy in various environments.