Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a prototype brick that contains a thermistor, two-axis accelerometer, multiplexer, transmitter, antenna and battery. The brick could be used to monitor the ‘health’ of the building such as temperatures, or vibration.
Read the media release on the UIUC web site.
American Technology Corporation has signed deals with Sony Business Europe and iPort Media to use their HyperSonic Sound Source (HSS) technology. Their technology involves the use of ultrasonic sound that creates highly directional audible sound.
In addition, ATC have also announced the release of their second generation HSS. Read their press release here.
A pianist GéNIA from the Ukraine will perform at the Purcell Room in London, several pieces from composers such as Philip Glass and Arvo Pärt during which researchers from the National Physical Laboratory will generate infrasound at a frequency of 17Hz from a loudspeaker attached to a 7m (23ft) length of sewer pipe. The audience will be asked to complete a questionnaire on mood and emotion, designed by the psychologists Ciaran O’Keeffe and Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University, both before and after listening to each piece of music. The results will be analysed to determine whether and how the vibrations have an effect.
“Infrasonic” concerts on Saturday, May 31, 3pm and 5pm, Purcell Room. Tickets are available from the Royal Festival Hall.
Owens Corning Automotive division displayed their VersaMat (TM) product family at SAE NVH 2003. VersaMat is a range of thermal and acoustic insulating materials for use on automotive applications such as insulating doors, dash and drive shaft tunnel and more.
Read the press release on the Owens Corning web site.
Several European manufacturers of acoustic and vibration sensors have joined with National Instruments to develop sensors that comply with the IEEE P1451.4 standard. The standard proposes that sensors add an embedded, low-cost memory chip containing a standardized transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) that stores important sensor information and scaling parameters for self-identification and self-description. TEDS eliminate the need to manually input this data when configuring a measurement system. The manufacturers include: Bruel & Kjaer, G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration, Kistler, LEM, RDP Electronics, Sensorex, WayCon Positionsmesstechnik. Other members include: Celesco, Endevco, Lebow, Lion Precision, Macro Sensors, Measurement Specialties, PCB Piezotronics, Honeywell Sensotec, Transducer Techniques, Watlow, Weed Instrument and Wilcoxon.
Read the press release on the National Instruments web site.
MTS and National Instruments have developed a partnership that intergrates I-DEAS Pro and Sound Engineering families of noise and vibration analysis software with National Instruments LabVIEW graphical development software and family of dynamic signal acquisition hardware.
Read the press release on the MTS web site.
Telaid in conjunction with Acentech have developed a product called Zone II, which is speaker that makes a low-level mashing noise to drown out background speech which is intended to provides “speech privacy.” There are several new laws that have come into effect that require health care and financial service companies to provide privacy when discussing details with customers. The kit contains 4 speakers that can be installed behind a ceiling tile and provides coverage for about 400 square feet.
The Institute for Safe, Quiet, and Durable Highways(SQDH), at the Ray Herrick Laboratories at Purdue University has built a device to test the noise generated from pavement – tire interaction. The pavement is attached to a circular drum and a tire rotates over the curved pavement surface.
Read more on the Purdue University web site.
Lord Corporation, North Carolina USA, have successfully installed an Active Vibration Control system in the Hindustan Aeronautics Advanced Light Helicopter, otherwise known as the Indian DHRUV. The system uses active Frahms to monitor and reduce vibration in the fuselage generated by the main rotor and the rotor aerodynamics.
Read the press release on the Lord Corporation web site.
Suss MicroTec and DELTA (Danish Electronics, Light and Acoustics) have created a website called Memunity that is dedicated to testing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). MEMUNITY and its members have techniques for testing MEMS accelerometers and microphones whilst they are still on the wafer.
Read more on the MEMUNITY web site.