This video provides a functional review and comprehensive teardown of the Fortickri TD2, an entry-level acoustic camera designed to localize sound pressure waves by combining a microphone array with a visual camera.
The teardown focuses on the modular front-end unit, which houses the sensing and processing core. The acoustic array utilizes a non-traditional sparse spiral pattern of MEMS microphones, optimized for spatially sampling sound across a vast three-order-of-magnitude frequency range (2 kHz up to 65 kHz). The microphones output a synchronized Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) digital stream, which is routed to the main processing board containing a dedicated Chinese-made FPGA. This FPGA performs the complex real-time beamforming calculations before sending the directional results to the handheld display unit.
Functional testing confirms that localization precision improves significantly at higher frequencies, consistent with beamforming theory related to aperture size. The camera demonstrates excellent capability in identifying and tracking multiple sound sources simultaneously, filtering specific frequency bands (e.g., ultrasonic 42 kHz coil whine from LED lights), and successfully locating low-pressure broadband noise, such as a difficult-to-find leak in a vacuum hose.
Fortickri TD2 Acoustic Camera Teardown and Review
0:07 Introduction and Function: The Fortickri TD2 acoustic camera localizes sound sources using a beam forming microphone array combined with a visual camera, ideal for industrial and electrical domain applications.
0:32 Hardware and Connectivity: The unit features a visible microphone array, USBC port (for charging/data), micro HDMI port (for projecting/recording), and a micro SD card slot.
1:37 Modular Architecture: The front-end sensor module is separated from the main handheld computer, suggesting a standardized interface for swapping different modules (e.g., for hybrid thermal/acoustic detection). The front housing is metal for rigidity and thermal dissipation, likely due to local processing (FPGA).
3:39 Spiral/Sparse Array Design: The array employs a spiral pattern, common for acoustic cameras, designed for broad frequency range sampling (50 Hz to 50 kHz). The array is also sparse (not all microphone positions are populated) to reduce cost and computation.
6:53 Acoustic Isolation and Mesh: A fine mesh protects the MEMS microphones from debris while allowing sound to pass through precision vias (acting as wave guides).
8:08 Digital MEMS Microphones: Each microphone likely outputs a digital Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) stream. This architecture simplifies data handling by synchronizing all MEMS sensors via a shared clock for coherent beam detection.
9:27 Processing Core: The central processing is performed by a dedicated FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) on the front-end board. Notably, the FPGA is an end-to-end Chinese-made part. The FPGA handles real-time beamforming before sending results to the host computer.
11:47 Performance Limitations (Theory): Localization precision (narrowness of the beam lobe) is highly dependent on frequency; lower frequencies (e.g., 2 kHz) have wider beams, resulting in worse accuracy compared to higher frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz).
15:11 Frequency Range Selection: The camera supports multiple detection bands: Audible (2-20 kHz), Default (10-50 kHz), and Ultrasonic (20-65 kHz), critical for industrial and electrical noise detection beyond human hearing.
17:28 Unexpected Discovery (Coil Whine): The camera detected a persistent 42 kHz tone, which was traced to the DC-DC converters in the studio lighting. This ultrasonic noise is why the lights become annoying when dimmed (as the frequency sometimes drops into the audible range).
21:09 Frequency Test Results: Testing confirmed that localization is poor at 2 kHz but excellent at 25 kHz, validating the theoretical relationship between beam width and frequency for the fixed array size.
22:58 Tracking Multiple Sources: The camera successfully tracks two closely spaced ultrasonic tones (22 kHz and 25 kHz) simultaneously using the "multiple tracking" feature.
24:18 Complex Signal Advantage: Square waves (rich in harmonics) are localized much more easily than spectrally pure sinusoids at the same frequency (3 kHz), demonstrating the camera’s reliance on high spectral content.
26:15 Real-World Leak Detection: The camera successfully localized a small, quiet, low-pressure leak in a vacuum pump hose despite high background noise from the pump, using the spatial filtering (focus area) feature.
28:27 Software Analysis: While the "Analyze IR" desktop software does not currently support live connection, it can analyze captured acoustic images, retaining frequency data and allowing sound playback.