Selling Silence: Hyundai Developing Advanced Noise Cancellation System
Noise-canceling technologies have become a handy little tool wedged inside the belt of many automakers. Aimed at reducing unpleasant road noise, most systems invert incoming sound waves to produce an exact negative of the ambient sound you don’t want to hear. They work best when you don’t notice them, which is pretty much always, but Hyundai Group claims there’s more work to be done before the tech is perfect.
As a result, the Korean manufacturer has developed an upgraded version of its current active noise control setup (ANC), one it calls “the world’s first Road Noise Active Noise Control.” Rather than simply piping in sounds designed to offset road noise, the new system (referred to as “RANC” by the automaker) also analyses in-cabin sound to make adjustments to help nullify unpalatable engine and road drone.
From Hyundai:
The existing noise insulation method involved sound insulations and dynamic dampers, which not only increased weight but also failed to block the buzzing infrasound completely. In contrast, ANC utilizes much lighter parts like microphones and controllers to control the noise and reduces infrasound more efficiently. The technology is already available in some Hyundai Motor Group vehicles.
However, due to the limitations of noise measurement and analysis technology, the existing ANC was only able to be utilized when noise was constant and the occurrence of the noise predictable. The Group’s current ANC technology has been most commonly used to counteract constant engine noise. Given that it only takes about 0.009 second for road or engine noise to reach the passenger, the current technology was limited.
RANC is supposed to be able to identify more sounds at a much quicker pace, allowing so-equipped vehicles to do a much better job at creating the sounds of silence. According to Hyundai, it only takes 0.002 second to analyze the noise and produce an inverted sound wave, generated by the Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The cabin microphone constantly monitors the road noise cancelation effectiveness while acceleration sensors monitor the vibration from the road to the car. All of that data is then fed into the DSP so it can make on-the-fly adjustments.
Through testing, Hyundai claims the new system was able to reduce in-cabin noise by 3dB and may allow the carmaker to use less sound-deadening materials in the future, potentially reducing vehicular weight and material costs. However, it took quite a bit of R&D to get here. Hyundai spent the last six years working with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, WeAcom, ARE, BurnYoung, and others to produce the RANC system.
Mass produced versions of the new noise-canceling tech will be handled in association with the audio wizards at Harman. Your author actually got a look (or listen) at some of the technologies the pair were working on last year and was rather impressed with the latest noise-cancellation tech — though we were only to try it in a little room, rather than a fully functional automobile.
The first RANC systems are said to be fitted to an upcoming Genesis model, with plans to expand from there.
[Images: Hyundai]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The day the develop a noise cancelling system to silence children quarreling in the back seat, I'll be sold to the system. And/or a nagging wife at the front seat.
"Hyundai claims the new system was able to reduce in-cabin noise by 3dB" 3dB? Better than nothing, but doesn't seem like much to brag about. For comparison, noise canceling headphones are on the order of 20dB.