Bristol-based XMOS Semiconductor has developed a system that uses 60GHz radar to detect people moving around in a room as part of a voice control system.

The radar system is being used with the linear array of microphones developed by XMOS.

The lineear array is qualified as part of Amazon’s Alexa voice activated controller and can also be used in controllers at the side of the room rather than in the middle. This allows a voice controller to be integrated into other devices such as lamps.

“It’s only when a person is identified and they then speak that the system is triggered”

 

“We have a demonstration with two radar chips from Infineon alongside the voice capture system to identify a person of interest. It’s only when a person is identified and they then speak that the system is triggered,” said CEO Mark Lippett (pictured right), at the opening of the company’s new offices in Queens Square this month.

XMOS is also using cloud-based machine learning technology from US-based voice recognition company SETEM Technologies, which was acquired by XMOS in 2017. This uses artificial intelligence and maths to determine how many people were in a room, isolating and then recalling their voices.

“We are looking beyond acoustics to other sensor systems as settling just for audio will get commoditised quickly”

 

Commenting on this as being a key part of the development of the company, Lippett adds: “This represents a rich seam of innovation. We have the richest portfolio of technology in the industry but it’s not enough.

“This is a big, big market and settling just for voice isn’t enough. We are looking beyond acoustics to other sensor systems as settling just for audio will get commoditised quickly,” he said.

“We will continue to develop our voice control system and have a roadmap but we won’t announce that until we have patented it,” he added.

XMOS is showing the technology at the Mobile World Congress exhibition in Barcelona next week

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