The muffled sounds of on-board music and announcements can be some of the most irritating and distracting noises around. Today, National Noise Action Day, QinetiQ has the remedy as it celebrates the success of NXT flat panel speaker technology, which uses existing aircraft fittings to produce high quality sound reproduction for cabin announcements and other on-board audio requirements.
Characteristic of so much of QinetiQ's success, the initial discovery of 'flat panel speaker' technology came out of its military research. Fifteen years ago a well-known helicopter manufacturer came to QinetiQ to ask the company to help reduce noise in the pilot cabin.
Initial attempts were unsuccessful but an amazing discovery was made along the way: the panels surrounding the interior of the cabin vibrated vigorously and were excellent conductors of sound.
In 1994, the technology was exclusively licenced to NXT Plc, which built on the initial discovery with a series of additional inventions to create a technology that, today, can be applied to a range of commercial situations. NXT's Distributed Mode Loudspeakers, as they are known, offer enormous benefits in terms of sound quality, design flexibility and cost savings, for manufacturers across all market sectors.
QinetiQ now has an exclusive licence to market the technology to the aerospace industry, and is engaged in work with companies such as Lufthansa Technik (LHT), the cabin systems business and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of the Lufthansa Group. LHT has now installed NXT flat panel loudspeaker systems on three business jets and there is the expectation a major fleet order will be placed.
"NXT's flat panel speaker technology is a superb example of QinetiQ's 'spin-out' technology and product development process," said Duncan Valentine, Managing Director Transport Markets at QinetiQ. "In the past there have been numerous examples of our technology being applied to solve complex problems for the military which have then successfully spun-out into the commercial arena. NXT's flat panel speaker technology is yet another example of how discoveries made by QinetiQ for military research can be successfully applied to commercial applications."
Flat panel speakers, based on NXT technology, are the latest development from QinetiQ research teams. Advantages of flat panel speakers over conventional cone loudspeakers include a more even distribution of sound, broader operating bandwidth and the potential for overall weight reduction in a typical installation. Voice intelligibility has also been noticeable improved. QinetiQ has many years' experience in the prediction of noise and vibration in civil and military aircraft, including fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft. QinetiQ's world class simulation and modelling capabilities are supported and validated by extensive experimental facilities including anechoic chambers, reverberant rooms and a state-of-the-art transmission suite.
Noise Action Day is being held on 27 May 2004 and aims to raise public awareness and understanding of noise issues.
Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik is the world market leader in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of commercial aircraft, their engines and components. With customized programs for maintenance and state-of-the-art repair procedures, Lufthansa Technik continuously assures the reliability and availability of its customer fleets.
NXT
NXT's business is the invention, patenting, licensing and marketing of enabling technologies in sound and speech. NXT is setting a new world-standard in loudspeakers. It offers a superior alternative to existing technologies across most product sectors while creating new opportunities where conventional technology has been unable to deliver. NXT has developed industry-specific expertise and is focused on helping its licensees advance product to market efficiently and cost effectively. NXT has more than 250 licensees for its patented flat panel loudspeaker technology. |
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