Realtime AI Communication Enhancement at the Edge
Brief
Iris Audio set out to transition their AI powered audio enhancement technology from an existing SaaS platform into a low power, field deployable communications module for Defence and Blue Light environments. Their US defence customer aimed to be first to market with real time environmental denoising for Push To Talk radio systems, improving clarity and reliability of communication during demanding operations.
The solution needed to retrofit to existing radio equipment, operate within strict size and integration constraints, and deliver fourteen hours of talk time powered by four AA batteries.
The project was delivered collaboratively by Iris Audio, their customer Roanwell Corporation, a US supplier of communications products for military applications, and Roanwell’s electronics design partner.
Solution
We defined a low power and failsafe system architecture that provided the flexibility needed to integrate with existing military radio equipment. This included driving the technical specifications and alignment across the three engineering teams involved in the programme. The solution was built around the Qualcomm S7 earbud chipset, which had been identified as having sufficient compute capability to support Iris Audio’s real time denoising algorithm.
Because the S7 is a consumer grade device, the supplied platform code required careful development and validation to meet the expectations of a safety critical product. We optimised the DSP implementation of the denoising algorithm, reducing overall power consumption and increasing battery life, while also improving robustness and usability in field conditions.
The resulting platform formed the basis of what became the Talon device. We adapted the native Bluetooth chip for a non Bluetooth application and developed a secure USB protocol stack to support provisioning and licensing of Iris Audio’s intellectual property during manufacture. This also enabled controlled diagnostics and recovery during future RMA processes.
Outcome
We delivered a world first device with up to eighty hours of talk time on a single AAA battery, which was significantly more energy efficient than the targeted specification. This allowed the device to be smaller, lighter and more usable in demanding operational environments.
The Talon device operates failsafe, reverting to passive Push To Talk functionality when turned off or when out of power. The device has generated international interest across Defence, Racing and Security sectors and has provided a valuable showcase of Iris Audio’s capability. It has also attracted attention from other customers in the same market who are seeking to avoid falling behind.
This project demonstrates our ability to deliver low power, AI enabled embedded systems under demanding operational and integration constraints.
