A self-filtering liquid acoustic sensor for voice recognition

Wearable acoustic sensors can be used for voice recognition. However, the capabilities of such devices, which are typically based on solid materials, are often restricted by ambient noise, motion artefacts and low conformability to the skin. Here we report a liquid acoustic sensor for voice recognition. The approach is based on a three-dimensional oriented and ramified magnetic network structure of neodymium–iron–boron magnetic nanoparticles suspended in a carrier fluid, which behaves like a permanent magnet. The sensor can discriminate small pressures (0.9 Pa), has a high signal-to-noise ratio (69.1 dB) and provides self-filtering capabilities that can remove low-frequency biomechanical motion artefact (less than 30 Hz). We use the liquid acoustic sensor—together with a machine learning algorithm—to create a wearable voice recognition system that offers a recognition accuracy of 99% in a noisy environment. An acoustic sensor that is based on a network of magnetic nanoparticles suspended in a carrier fluid can be used—together with a machine learning algorithm—to create a wearable voice recognition system with an accuracy of 99% in a noisy environment.