Zvook project, Ukrainian know-how for detecting air targets

Espreso TV reported on the project.

"The project idea came from a volunteer from Lviv, an IT specialist. The main goal of the project is to protect the city of Lviv, as well as create opportunities to protect the whole of Ukraine from enemy air attacks. The impetus was a problem that, with the beginning of a full-scale invasion, became very apparent, because it was very difficult to track the cruise missiles Russia used to attack us due to the fact that many classic radar systems used to detect such targets were destroyed in the first days of the war. In addition, the enemy used an effective tactic - flying at low altitudes, when classic radars already showed lower results due to the curvature of the Earth. Accordingly, the acoustic method of detecting air targets has a lot of advantages compared to the classic ones," said the developer.

Maryan Sulym added that the artificial intelligence model of the device can divide air targets into categories: rotorcraft, i.e. helicopters, rotorcraft and jet aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

"The main part of the sound sensor of our project is a mirror that helps to focus the sound on the microphone, thus we achieve a longer detection range. We insist on having a greater detection range and we achieve this due to a parabolic-shaped mirror with a microphone in the middle. We install such a device at a height of 10-12 meters, which also allows us to increase the detection range. That is, we can put them on any telecommunication towers, all that is required is power. Today, more than 40 such stations are operating and cover a distance of 200 km, and in the near future, we plan to double their number. We try to place the stations along the front lines, which allows us to see how the target's flight progresses across the territory. Thus, it is enough to place a station along the lines, because the cruise missiles, even if changing their course, cross the lines, which allows our troops to clearly see the situation," explained Sulym.

He also added that "We have registered Sound Technologies as a public organization and only now we will begin to raise donations for the further deployment of this network. Previously, we wanted to simply hand over the project to the state, but now we are going to hand over not just the idea and implementation of the sensor itself, but the whole developed network. From the beginning, Ukrzaliznytsia and the public organization Family of the Fallen Heroes of Lviv Region helped us with donations to build the sensors that are now at the border. Soon we will create the Sound Technologies website, and in the meantime, you can contact us via Facebook and keep in touch."