Psychoacoustics against the enemy. Suppression system AHAD (USA)

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General view of the prototype AHAD

The USA continues to develop non-lethal acoustic suppression systems for use in various fields. A new sample of this kind, the AHAD product, is distinguished by its small dimensions and ease of use, as well as an original principle of operation. Unlike other acoustic weapons, it does not hurt, but it also seriously affects the target.

Perspective development


For the past several years, the Naval Surface Warfare Research Center, Crane Division, has been working on the topic of non-lethal acoustic equipment. The main result of such work at the moment is the AHAD (Acoustic Hailing And Disruption) system.



AHAD research and design was completed about two years ago. In December 2019, NSW and the US Department of the Navy filed a patent application for "Handheld acoustic hailing and disruption systems and methods." In June of this year, the invention was secured by the patent US20210195306A1.

The document describes the design of the suppression system and the general principles of its operation. It also includes graphic images of the assembled product and individual components. Photos of a real prototype of AHAD were also published, on the basis of which drawings for the patent were made. They allow you to consider the design in more detail.


Image from the patent

According to published data, the goal of the AHAD project was to create a fundamentally new non-lethal speaker system. It should act on the speaking or screaming person and silence him without resorting to pain. The solution to such a problem is provided due to a specific psychological and acoustic effect.

It should be noted that AHAD is not a completely new development. So, about 10 years ago, a Japanese-designed Speech Jammer Gun appeared on the civilian market. This device used the same principles of operation and could affect people within a radius of several meters. Later, there were applications for smartphones with similar functions.

Design features


The patented AHAD system is a portable device of limited weight and size. It is distinguished by a rather rough execution. The purpose of the prototype was only to demonstrate the original technology, and was not required of convenience or high performance. In the future, it is possible to create new options that are more convenient to use and even compatible with any media.

The AHAD prototype is based on a simple frame to which all other devices are attached. A microphone is installed at the front end of the frame; for more efficient operation, it is turned back, away from the target, and is complemented by an acoustic mirror. With the help of the latter, sound waves are collected and reflected on the microphone.

Psychoacoustics against the enemy. Suppression system AHAD (USA)

Loudspeaker for AHAD

A signal processing unit is directly connected to the microphone. It is he who is responsible for the formation of "disturbing" sounds, and the performance of the entire system depends on him. The case under the frame houses the amplifier and the power supply, and its front wall is given for the installation of a directional acoustic emitter. The latter is based on 50 small speakers of the required power.

In the main operating mode of the device, a microphone and a mirror are used as a directional system that receives an acoustic signal from a target - a conversation or a shout. The processing unit generates a new signal: a copy of the original sound is mixed with a delay. A similar signal goes to an amplifier and is output to a directional emitter. The operator can control the volume of the system and the delay of the auxiliary audio signal.

If required, AHAD can operate as a conventional directional loudspeaker. In this case, the signal from the source goes directly to the amplifier, without additional processing.

Psychoacoustic effect


Normally, the speaking person perceives his voice due to the vibrations of the air and due to the conduction of the tissues of the head. At the same time, sounds reach the ears with a slight delay, but the brain quickly learns to ignore it and begins to perceive its own voice normally. Reflection of sound from surrounding objects and echoes with a longer delay interfere with normal perception. This effect can be seen in large rooms with good reverberation.


It is this phenomenon that is used by the AHAD system. A person who is talking or screaming under the influence of a directional microphone and loudspeaker hears his / her voice twice at a certain interval. Tests have shown that most of the "experimental" while experiencing discomfort, lose their thoughts and can not continue the conversation. The best results are achieved with a delay equivalent to one syllable in the speaker's speech.

The use of directional acoustic means allows the use of AHAD against a specific target. Only the speaking person will experience unpleasant sensations, while those around them will only notice a slight change in sounds and acoustic background. However, the "defeat" of the chosen target is also not guaranteed. Often, the subjects noticed a strange echo, but continued to speak. At the same time, no negative phenomena were noted.

Thus, AHAD in its current form has only limited effectiveness, and the potential of the product against a specific “target” is impossible to predict. The developers of the system believe that it is not yet ready to go beyond the laboratory and needs further research and improvement. At the same time, they cannot even name the approximate dates for the completion of work and the appearance of a full-fledged "combat-ready" product.

Practical potential


The architecture of the AHAD system lends itself to scalability without any special difficulties and allows you to create portable or portable products with different levels of technical characteristics. Accordingly, a potential operator gets the opportunity to order a system with the required parameters or choose a ready-made sample.

An acoustic “hail and break” system can be useful in suppressing riots and dispersing crowds. In such a situation, the AHAD operator must follow the crowd, look for the most active participants and literally silence them. Without the ringleader, the crowd will be less active.


System schematic diagram. The bottom row shows a separate microphone without signal processing

However, the actual effectiveness of suppression in such a situation may be limited. Thus, an “activist” may be immune to the effects of AHAD. In addition, he can wait and return to his previous occupation - and demand a new impact. In addition, the situation during the riots is not always conducive to tracking down individuals.

The military use of AHAD is questionable. In a typical clash, there are simply no episodes in which the enemy could be influenced by his own voice. Only a directional loudspeaker of a new type has real prospects in the context of the army. The need for signal processing and microphone processing is questionable.

However, the suppression system can also be used in combat. In such an environment, AHAD should be directed at enemy gunners. Then they will hear not only shots from the other side, but also their own, and twice. Perhaps such an illusion of increased shelling can scare the enemy and affect the outcome of the battle.

With ambiguous prospects


Thus, one of the leading research organizations of the US Navy has studied the well-known psychoacoustic effect and developed its own version of the device for its practical application. The general characteristics and capabilities of this product have already been confirmed through tests, but the practical prospects are unclear.

It should be noted that the experimental AHAD system appeared two years ago, and at the same time the achieved level of the project made it possible to file a patent. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that over the past time NSW has carried out new work and received certain results that fundamentally allow implementation in practice. However, a negative scenario is also possible with the termination of work due to the lack of real prospects. Whether the recent patent remains the only achievement of the AHAD program will become clear later.
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16 comments
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  1. +3
    17 September 2021 06: 29
    Perhaps such an illusion of increased shelling can scare the enemy and affect the outcome of the battle.
    Pfft, this technique is as old as the world!

    1. 0
      17 September 2021 11: 29
      Havana Syndrome)) they experienced it on their own and they dumped on us as always.
  2. +3
    17 September 2021 06: 30
    The only drawback of this system is that by plugging his ears, a person can continue to speak and shout despite the operation of this device.
    1. +3
      17 September 2021 07: 01
      Quote: Lech from Android.
      The only drawback of this system is that by plugging his ears, a person can continue to speak and shout despite the operation of this device.

      And for many, they are already plugged with a radio prompter. The purpose of which is often precisely to suppress echoes when performing in large rooms with a booming echo or a distributed loudspeaker system in the hall.
      1. AUL
        +1
        17 September 2021 08: 47
        According to published data, the goal of the AHAD project was to create a fundamentally new non-lethal speaker system. It should affect the speaking or screaming person and silence him ... ... Later, applications for smartphones with similar functions appeared.
        Where can I get such an application? !!! I will pay any money! laughing good
        1. +2
          17 September 2021 08: 51
          Quote from AUL
          Where can I get such an application? !!! I will pay any money!
          Try playing with the "reverb" ("echo") function, which is supported by most sound cards, first.
  3. +1
    17 September 2021 07: 51
    The main constructive sign of the effectiveness of non-lethal weapons is the absence of a front sight. But in such a flygegeheim, its presence, judging by the photo, will not affect the result.
  4. +3
    17 September 2021 08: 52
    Is it not this funderwaflu that the staff at their embassies have been testing for the past few years, causing the "Havana syndrome" in their own diplomats?
  5. +2
    17 September 2021 08: 58
    This is from the area of ​​influence of singing on vision.
  6. +1
    17 September 2021 13: 10
    Tests have shown that most of the "experimental" at the same time experience discomfort, lose their thoughts and can not continue the conversation

    AND? From this, for example, it does not follow that, having fallen under a similar effect, the target will stop attacking or firing from a firearm.
    However, the "defeat" of the chosen target is also not guaranteed. Often, the subjects noticed a strange echo, but continued to speak. At the same time, no negative phenomena were noted.

    As a result, the described device is essentially useless, but possibly expensive, rubbish.
    Especially against the background of quite efficient acoustic weapon systems like the same Hyperspike or LRAD. Which "stupidly and effortlessly" unleash an acoustic shock on the target with a large amount of decibels.
    1. 0
      21 November 2021 13: 38
      Quote: Terran Ghost
      Which "stupidly and effortlessly" unleash an acoustic shock on the target with a large amount of decibels.

      One hundred interferes with the roll of the GO sirens.
      There is generally only a motor, a drum and slots.
      When there are a lot of such sirens and work for a long time, there will be a good effect.
  7. +2
    17 September 2021 13: 58
    Bullshit question.
    This AHAD only works in the audible range.
    And I will step away and say something like that ... laughing
    1. +2
      17 September 2021 16: 58
      Quote: prior
      And I will step away and say this

  8. +2
    18 September 2021 14: 06
    Bullshit, absolutely useless device
  9. 0
    18 October 2021 18: 58
    MBV with a reflector, it's just thick, specially came to see someone clever.
    And then there is the UZ searchlight with Ali, in general, the Yankees are shallow, they are shallow ...
  10. 0
    21 November 2021 13: 33
    Why does the crowd need ears? Plugs or headphones put on.
    One fig coordination of "orange" riots goes on smartphones (like in China jammed - the crowd itself absorbed)).

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