Hyundai Claims Breakthrough to Enhance In-Car UX

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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11th November 2019

Hyundai is claiming its road-noise cancelling technology can halve in-car sound and could pave the way to a “near silent” user experience, seen as vital ahead of full autonomous driving.

Many experts question the ability to provide suitable infotainment systems to cope with the driverless car if that experience is prey to road-noise, the bane of all existing vehicles. Now the South Korean car maker claims its new technology could provide an audio environment almost exactly the same as consumers would enjoy at home or in a cinema.

It is claiming a world first with its Road Noise Active Noise Control (RANC) system that builds on the carmaker’s current Active Noise Control (ANC) technology. This claims to use software to analyze the in-cabin sound and actively emit soundwaves inverted to incoming noise to decrease engine and road noise.

Hyundai says existing noise insulation, using thick materials and dynamic dampers, only increase weight but also fail to completely block the ‘buzzing’ infrasound. It claims its active system uses lightweight components, like microphones and controllers, to offset the noise and infrasound more efficiently. It says tests suggest the systems can reduce in-cabin noise by 3dB or roughly half the noise level as compared a vehicle without it.

The automaker says it went through six years of research and development for the system in participation with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, WeAcom, ARE, BurnYoung among others. Also, its mass production phase was carried out with global car audio company, Harman.

Gangdeok Lee, a research fellow of NVH Research Lab, said: “RANC is a remarkable technology which takes existing NVH technology to the next level. We will continue to take the leading position of NVH technology and deliver the highest level of quietness to customers.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_