EchoGuard

This project is a real-time embedded system designed to detect and localize sudden sounds (like screams, alarms, or loud crashes) in three-dimensional space using multiple digital microphones. Built for environments such as homes, hospitals, or public facilities, the system not only pinpoints the direction of the sound but also triggers alerts when it detects potentially dangerous or abnormal audio patterns.

By combining time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) techniques with directional triangulation using four MEMS microphones (INMP441) and an ESP32, the system enables intelligent monitoring with minimal hardware and high efficiency.

Key Features:

• 🎤 4-Microphone Array (INMP441)
  Configured in a tetrahedral or planar spatial layout to capture incoming sound from multiple angles.
  Each microphone communicates via I2S protocol with the ESP32.
  
  

• ⏱️ Real-Time Directional Detection
  Uses cross-correlation and time delay estimation to determine the origin of the sound in both azimuth and elevation.
  
  

• 🚨 Emergency Alarm System
  Loud or abnormal noises beyond a defined threshold trigger visual (LED) and/or auditory (buzzer) alarms.
  Future integration with mobile or cloud alert systems is planned.
  
  

• 📊 Serial/Visual Output
  Sends localization data and event logs via UART or Wi-Fi for debugging or remote visualization.
  
  

• 📦 Compact Embedded Design
  Optimized for low-cost, low-power implementation using ESP32.
  Suitable for IoT or standalone deployment.
  
  

Use Cases:

• Detecting cries for help or accidents in elderly care facilities

• Security monitoring in restricted or quiet zones

• Localizing gunshots or loud disturbances in smart city surveillance

• Assisting visually impaired individuals with directional audio feedback
  
  

Tech Stack:

• Hardware: ESP32, INMP441 MEMS microphones, LEDs/buzzer for alerts

• Software: Arduino (C/C++), TDOA algorithms for localization

• Communication: I2S for audio data, UART/Wi-Fi for output

• Optional: Serial plotting or real-time 3D visualization on PC/dashboard
  
  

Potential Future Enhancements:

• Real-time 3D visualizer for direction and intensity

• Integration with cloud or mobile alert system

• AI-based sound classification (scream vs. crash vs. gunshot)

• Adaptive noise filtering in busy environments

• Battery-powered, weather-resistant hardware casing