Definition

Noun: - The technique of determining the location of a sound source: This involves precisely measuring the differences in the time a sound arrives at multiple microphones placed at known positions. The data is then used to calculate the source's distance and direction.

Usage

• Primary Usage: The term is most commonly used in military and scientific contexts to locate the origin of a sound, such as an explosion or gunfire.
  • The artillery unit used sound ranging to pinpoint the enemy's position.
  • Sound ranging is an effective method for detecting seismic activity.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Military Application: A key method for locating enemy artillery during World War I and II.
  • Advances in sound ranging technology greatly improved counter-battery fire accuracy.

Variants and Related Words

• Sound Locator (n): A device or system used for sound ranging.
• Acoustic Location (n): A broader term encompassing all methods of finding a sound source, including passive techniques like sound ranging and active techniques like sonar.

Synonyms

• Acoustic triangulation: Emphasizes the geometric calculation aspect.
• Passive acoustic localization: Highlights that the method listens without emitting its own signal.

Related Phrases

• Time difference of arrival (TDOA): The technical principle underlying sound ranging, referring to the measured time delays.
  • The system calculates the position based on the time difference of arrival at each sensor.

Noun

1. locating a source of sound (as an enemy gun) by measurements of the time the sound arrives at microphones in known positions