ANCEA research cooperation of MdynamiX and Munich University of Applied Sciences

Together with the University of Applied Sciences Munich, MdynamiX AG is currently working on an exciting research project. Under the name “Active Noise Cancellation with Electric Drives (ANCEA)“, the sails have been set for future innovation with the new research project. The Project’s core aims to harmonize the performance as well as the best possible additional acoustic functions and intrinsic acoustic characteristics of electric drives. This cutting-edge technology will be closely scrutinized and further developed in the coming years.

Background to the research question and how Active Noise Cancellation works
Besides comfort functions, acoustic perception in vehicles, is very important for the well-being of the driver and passengers, especially in the premium segment. Tonal disturbing noises emerging from the tires at a specific speed or functional sounds of electric drives that appear when running the electric window lifter can be very annoying for the passengers and can lead to expensive customer complaints for the manufacturer.

Active Noise Cancellation is an efficient solution to this problem. The disturbing noise is detected by sensors, e.g., a microphone in the passenger compartment or an acceleration sensor at a specific point on the vehicle structure. An acoustic source emits inversely phased waves that minimize the disturbing noise.

What is the special feature of the system? The acoustic source cancelling the disturbing noise is an electric motor that is already existent in the car, e.g., the electric drive of the sunroof, the power steering or the window lifter. The motor can be controlled in a way that it emits certain sound waves independently of its actual drive function and reduces the disturbing noise at the sensor location. The advantage of this system is that there is no need for additional loudspeakers or ECUs to be assembled in the car, which reduces space, weight and costs.

Targeted product development for interesting industrial application: first step demonstrator
No research behind closed doors, but research with the specific goal of industrial application is our motto: The active improvement of NVH characteristics of and with electric drives will be highlighted in technical depth from now on. For this purpose, among other things, a prototypical subsystem was built to estimate the applicability and demonstrate the potential.

How to ensure the optimum between power performance and improvement of user acoustics without additional hardware effort?
How does the engine become the ideal compensation actuator?
Which application areas and technology gaps can this technology open up?

Researchers from MdynamiX and Munich University of Applied Sciences are exploring these and many other questions.

Funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
This project is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi; ELSYS Bayern) and builds on the success of previous basic research supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
Behind the strong research team are numerous scientific employees of the Munich University of Applied Sciences and MdynamiX AG – fueled by the great interest of sponsors and industry.

We will keep you posted about further developments!
Until then, see here how the electric motor becomes a loudspeaker: