Passive UAV Detection: System or Custom PCBA?

Passive UAV Detection: System or Custom PCBA?

UAV acoustic localization system and microphone array PCBA.. OTOMO gives counter-UAV program owners two proven paths from one acoustic engineering platform: deploy the ready for immediate passive drone warnings, or engage OTOMO to manufacture your own for OEM-specific receiver hardware. Use the comparison below to choose the route that fits your deadlines, engineering capacity, and deployment scale.

OTOMO

Which OTOMO route fits your program?

Start with a field-ready hardware node, or keep the electronics architecture in your own hands and let OTOMO build around your microphone-array concept.

Path 1 — Buy the system

Ready-to-deploy passive LS8118F

  • 64-channel MEMS array with synchronous 192 kHz acquisition
  • Fully passive sensing — no radiated detection signal
  • All-weather, fanless operation from -40 °C to 70 °C
  • Built-in beamforming, AI recognition, API & demo program
Path 2 — Build your hardware

Custom microphone-array electronics

  • Multi-channel MEMS array PCBA architecture tailored to your channel count
  • Acquisition board, interface and gain-stage decisions stay in your spec
  • OTOMO DFM, component sourcing, SMT assembly and production support
  • Works for prototype volumes through OEM/ODM-scale builds

Why passive acoustic sensing earns its place in counter-UAV defense

Acoustic detection listens rather than illuminates. That changes what you can protect, how covertly you operate, and how many nuisance alarms your command center receives.

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Zero radiated signal

The LS8118F receives external sound only. No RF emission means the detector does not reveal its own position — a decisive advantage for military and sensitive-area deployment.

🔄

360° situational awareness

Single-array coverage spans 360° azimuth with -20° to 90° elevation. Cascade three arrays and you cover a full site while holding 48 simultaneous target tracks.

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All-weather, 24-hour operation

Fanless hardware is rated for -40°C to 70°C and draws under 2.5 W, so perimeter nodes keep listening through heat, cold, and darkness.

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Fewer false alarms in loud cities

AI acoustic fingerprint recognition separates multi-rotor, FPV racing and fixed-wing UAVs from vehicle and crowd noise. False alarm rate stays below 10% in complex urban noise.

Buy vs. build decision matrix

Use the same selection criteria your engineering team would apply to any counter-UAV audio sensor program.

Evaluation factor Buy: LS8118F system Build: custom array PCBA route
Time to deployment Hardware, datasheet and demo program are available today; integration starts immediately after evaluation. Timeline follows your electrical specification, prototype validation and requested production quantity.
Customization level Configure number of arrays, cascade architecture and camera overlay position for site-wide coverage. Control board layout, array arm geometry, interface set, power budget and mechanical envelope.
Engineering workload Built-in Delay-Sum/MVDR, anti-reverberation AI and camera overlay reduce audio software work. Your engineers own the electronics architecture; OTOMO provides DFM and production feedback.
DSP and algorithm ownership System ships with optimized beamforming, recognition and acoustic fingerprint capabilities. Algorithm work stays in-house; specify only the acquisition chain and hardware interfaces.
Volume profile Best when you need a proven sensor node for immediate site deployment. Best for OEM prototypes and mid-to-large production runs built around your unique mechanical design.

Scale the LS8118F into a full counter-UAV network

One node gives you directional warning. Multiple synchronized nodes turn that warning into a persistent 360° acoustic picture of your airspace.

  • Single-array trackingOne LS8118F node maintains up to 12 simultaneous UAV target tracks.
  • 3-array 360° coverageA three-array cascade covers the full 360° perimeter and lifts tracking to 48 simultaneous drone targets.
  • 12-array area coverageLarge sites can cascade 12 arrays to monitor up to 192 UAV targets across wide operational zones.
  • 1080P camera overlayDual-position tracking markers are drawn synchronously onto live 1080P@30fps camera video for visual confirmation.
  • API & demo programA complete API and demo build supports secondary development inside your existing security or C2 platform.
  • AI acoustic fingerprintingRecognize multi-rotor, FPV racing and fixed-wing classes while suppressing vehicle and crowd background noise.
UAV acoustic positioning and drone sound localization network coverage

Scenario-to-spec: which hardware answers your site?

Match your operating environment to the LS8118F features that matter most — or to the custom PCBA requirements you should send OTOMO.

Airports, rail hubs, urban blocks

Low nuisance alarms among dense noise

Key facts: false alarm rate <10% in complex urban noise; AI acoustic fingerprint separator; video overlay for security-operator confirmation.

Buy the LS8118F and plan camera-overlay integration through its API.
Borders and long perimeters

Catch fixed-wing threats before they cross

Key facts: fixed-wing detection ≥2000 m; fanless -40°C to 70°C operation; 360° azimuth with -20° to 90° elevation window.

Deploy cascading arrays to keep long-range acoustic coverage continuous.
Industrial parks, campuses, sensitive facilities

Track many targets at once

Key facts: 12 targets per node; 48 targets with 3 arrays; 192 targets with 12 arrays; response latency from detection to alert is 100 ms.

Design a 3-array ring first, then expand to 12 arrays as traffic grows.
OEM / R&D new product programs

Build your own microphone-array receiver

Key facts to specify: channel count, 192 kHz class synchronous sampling, 16-bit PCM output, USB/Ethernet interface, operating temperature range and enclosure geometry.

Send a PCBA RFQ to OTOMO with your block diagram and channel needs.

Engineering RFQ checklist

Send these inputs with your inquiry and OTOMO will respond with the right system configuration or PCBA review.

For an LS8118F deployment quote

  • Target threat types: multi-rotor, FPV racing, fixed-wing or mixed
  • Required detection distance based on your protected boundary
  • Number of sides / corners to cover: 1, 3, 12 or another cascade count
  • Operating temperature extremes and mounting environment
  • Need for camera video overlay or existing CCTV integration
  • Control room protocol for API / demo program connection
Get LS8118F Datasheet & Demo

For a custom PCBA / OEM build quote

  • MEMS channel count and target acoustic band (e.g., 20 Hz – 80 kHz)
  • Sampling rate, bit depth and synchronous acquisition requirements
  • Host interface preference: USB, Gigabit Ethernet UDP, serial or custom
  • Board size, mounting geometry and system mechanical constraints
  • SMT assembly quantity and component sourcing preference
  • Program schedule plus DFM or prototyping expectations
Start a PCBA Quote
Direct OTOMO engineering channels:   info@otomosemi.com · 86-18123677761

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