We developed a real-time acoustic bandwidth compression algorithm that enables acoustic signals with large bandwidth to be compressed into a band that we can hear. One application of this algorithm is to enhance the diver experience, by enabling him or her to appreciate the rich soundscape the underwater world has to offer. A stereo implementation of the algorithm enables the diver to also localize the sound source. This further enhances the experience and may potentially improve dive safety.
Many animals and systems, from bats to high-voltage power lines on land, and marine animals underwater, radiate ultrasound that contains valuable information. Initially motivated by an interest in listening to high-frequency dolphin vocalization, we developed a real-time bandwidth compressor that can translate the prominent features of ultrasound into the human hearing band. The algorithm requires no assumption on the frequency content of the signal of interest (except the maximum frequency).