Expanding the ‘bubble’ of cabin acoustics

Noise cancellation has been a viable technology for many years, used on board turboprop aircraft to counter engine noise and familiar to consumers when applied to headphones to reduce background noise, among other applications. Like many technologies, advances in computer processing speeds and computer chip design, as well as loudspeaker and microphone design has enabled more effective noise cancellation systems to be developed.

Israel-based Silentium has been active in this field for many years with automotive customers including Jaguar Land Rover and others. “The objectives of applying our active road noise technology solutions to any car is to make the cabin quieter,” explains Anthony Manias, head of automotive at Silentium, “You give more of a premium feel, particularly under some use conditions where, in the case of road noise, due to the contact between the tire and the road, this would produce unwanted noises inside the cabin.”