Real-time implementation of acoustic signal processing algorithms on the TMS320C5402 digital signal processing starter kit

For many years the Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR) expendable sonobuoy has been part on the Department of National Defence inventory to aid in underwater acoustic surveillance. In turn, acoustic signal processing algorithms to aid operators with the interpretation of underwater acoustic signals have also been established.; Although research is done to create new algorithms the difficulty continuously lies with the fielding of such advances due to the prohibitive cost of field testing and the follow-on cost of operational implementation.; The aim of this thesis was to demonstrate that acoustic signal processing algorithms could be implemented to perform real-time analysis on a DIFAR signal using inexpensive, commercially available hardware thus allowing for additional field trials prior to pursuing operational implementation.; Fixed-point Digital Signal Processing (DSP) processors are typically faster and cheaper than floating-point processors. Converting algorithms from floating-point to fixed-point can degrade performance due to a loss of precision and scaling to prevent numerical overflow. In this thesis a fixed-point processor was used thus requiring the acoustic processing algorithms to be modified. The acoustic algorithms were implemented using fixed-point arithmetic as opposed to the higher precision floating-point arithmetic used in algorithm development. The effects of fixed-point arithmetic on the accuracy of the acoustic algorithm were investigated.