Articles tagged with "noise-reduction"
World’s first aerospace-powered quiet leaf blower cuts noise by 70%
Whisper Aero, founded by former NASA electric aircraft pioneer Mark Moore, has introduced the Tone T1 Quiet Leafblower at CES 2026, marking the world’s first aerospace-powered quiet leaf blower. Leveraging proprietary aerospace propulsion technology originally developed for electric aircraft, the Tone T1 operates 70% quieter than leading gas-powered blowers, producing just 52 dB(A) at peak thrust. Despite its low noise, it delivers superior performance with 880 cubic feet per minute airflow and 25 newtons of force, outperforming traditional gas models by 60%. This innovation addresses growing community demands for quieter, cleaner landscaping tools amid increasing regulations and noise restrictions. Beyond its noise reduction and power, the Tone T1 offers user-friendly features such as a 5-speed ToneShift control dial, a ToneLock Trigger to reduce user fatigue, a swappable 54V battery providing up to 50 minutes of runtime, and an integrated 700-lumen LED light for use in low-light conditions.
energyelectric-propulsionaerospace-technologybattery-powered-toolsnoise-reductionelectric-leaf-blowersustainable-landscapingEU unveils $5.6-million plan to build quieter underwater drones
The European Defense Agency (EDA) has launched a €4.8-million ($5.6-million) research initiative called SPHYDA (Submarine Hull/Rudder/Propeller Hydrodynamics Interaction and Hydroacoustics) aimed at reducing the acoustic noise generated by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Over four years, the project seeks to analyze how noise arises from the interaction of hull shapes, rudders, and propellers, with a particular focus on hydrodynamic noise caused by propulsion systems that generate cavitation. By developing advanced numerical models and experimental methods, SPHYDA aims to create digital design guidelines for quieter, stealthier underwater drones, which will provide strategic military advantages and help protect marine life. The project involves nine industrial and research partners from Italy (the lead nation), Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Norway. After building and validating digital models, SPHYDA will proceed to tank testing and real-world sea trials to measure far-field noise. The initiative reflects a broader
roboticsautonomous-underwater-vehiclesunderwater-droneshydrodynamicsnoise-reductionmilitary-technologystealth-technologyHance will demo its kilobyte-size AI audio processing software at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Norwegian startup Hance is showcasing its ultra-compact AI-driven audio processing software at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. The company has developed models as small as 242 kB that run on-device with just 10 milliseconds of latency, enabling real-time noise reduction, sound separation, echo and reverb removal, and speech clarity enhancement. This technology is particularly valuable in high-stakes environments like Formula One racing, where clear communication is critical, and has already attracted clients such as Intel and Riedel Communications, the official radio supplier to F1. Hance’s team, including co-founders with deep audio industry experience, trained their AI models on a diverse range of high-quality sounds, from F1 car roars to volcanic eruptions. Their software’s small size and energy efficiency allow it to operate on various devices without relying on cloud processing, making it suitable for professional applications in sports broadcasting, law enforcement, and defense. The company is actively partnering with chipmakers like Intel to optimize
AIaudio-processingenergy-efficient-softwareedge-computingneural-processing-unitsreal-time-audio-enhancementnoise-reductionNew algorithm solves quantum computer's speed-of-light problem
Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute, MIT, NTNU, and Leiden University have developed a new algorithm called Frequency Binary Search that enables quantum computers to reduce noise in qubits in real time. Noise, or decoherence, is a major challenge for quantum computing because qubits are highly sensitive to tiny environmental changes, which cause errors and disrupt their coherent quantum states. Traditional noise mitigation methods involve extensive measurements and corrections that are often too slow, resulting in delayed noise cancellation and reduced accuracy. The Frequency Binary Search algorithm addresses this by estimating qubit frequency shifts instantly using a Quantum Machines controller equipped with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which processes data on the spot without sending it to a slower desktop computer. This real-time correction allows simultaneous calibration of many qubits with exponential precision using fewer than ten measurements, a significant improvement over the thousands typically required. By enabling immediate noise correction, this breakthrough brings quantum computers closer to reliable, large-scale operation, potentially unlocking their vast capabilities in fields like
quantum-computingqubitsnoise-reductiondecoherenceFPGAquantum-algorithmquantum-processorsBuilding the business jet that silences the sonic boom
The article discusses Spike Aerospace’s development of the Spike S-512 “Diplomat,” a quiet supersonic business jet designed to overcome the challenges that grounded Concorde, primarily the disruptive sonic boom and regulatory bans on overland supersonic flight. By employing advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), aerodynamic sculpting, and design principles inspired by NASA’s X-59 program, Spike aims to enable supersonic travel over land routes with significantly reduced noise. The S-512 is engineered to cruise at Mach 1.6, potentially cutting transatlantic flight times, such as New York to London or Paris, to under four hours while maintaining fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. Key technical innovations focus on reshaping the aircraft’s fuselage—particularly an elongated nose cone, high-swept wings, and tail—to spread out shock waves and prevent their coalescence into loud sonic booms. The design uses multi-lobed lift distribution and area ruling to smooth cross-sectional changes, reducing wave drag
energyaerospacesupersonic-flightaerodynamicsfuel-efficiencynoise-reductioncomputational-modelingHow China's record-breaking maglev train silenced 'tunnel boom'
China’s CRRC has developed a novel 100-meter-long porous buffer installed at tunnel entrances to address the “tunnel boom” phenomenon caused by high-speed maglev trains exiting tunnels. This boom results from compressed air rapidly releasing as trains traveling up to 600 km/h (373 mph) emerge from tunnels, creating intense low-frequency shock waves. The buffer, made from lightweight porous materials and combined with a porous tunnel wall coating, vents compressed air gradually, reducing pressure spikes by up to 96%. This innovation promises a quieter, safer ride and fewer disturbances to nearby communities, wildlife, and infrastructure, without significantly increasing construction complexity or costs. This breakthrough is critical for the advancement of maglev technology, which can surpass conventional high-speed rail speeds limited by wheel-rail friction. China’s latest maglev prototype, capable of sustained 600 km/h service, will incorporate this buffer. The technology could revolutionize travel along major corridors like Beijing–Shanghai by offering a faster, quieter alternative to domestic flights,
energymaterialsmagnetic-levitationhigh-speed-railaerodynamic-engineeringnoise-reductiontransportation-technologyOwl’s silent flight inspires material that tames harsh engine sounds
Researchers at China’s Tiangong University have developed a novel two-layer aerogel inspired by the silent flight of owls, which naturally dampen sound through their specialized feathers and soft skin. This new material mimics owl feathers’ serrated edges and skin’s porous structure to absorb a broad range of sound frequencies, achieving a 58% reduction in noise. Unlike traditional felt fiber soundproofing that typically targets either high- or low-frequency sounds, this lightweight aerogel effectively reduces both, making it superior for noise control applications. The aerogel’s bottom layer features a honeycomb pattern that cancels low-frequency noise, while the top layer consists of silicon nanofibers that dampen high-frequency sounds. In practical tests, it reduced automobile engine noise from 87.5 decibels to 78.6 decibels, outperforming many existing commercial noise absorbers. Additionally, the material is durable, maintaining its structure after repeated compression cycles. This innovation holds promise for reducing noise pollution
materialssoundproofingaerogelnoise-reductionbiomimicrysilicon-nanofibersautomotive-engineeringStudent-built tool turns sound into sight to slash airplane noise
A team at Texas A&M University, led by aerospace engineering professor Dr. Darren Hartl and Ph.D. student Kevin Lieb, has developed a student-built acoustic imaging tool designed to visualize sound sources with high precision. Unlike traditional tests that rely on mechanical noise, the team uniquely tested their device using vocal harmonies from a university choir, turning sound into visual data. This approach allowed them to explore the instrument’s capabilities beyond conventional engineering applications. The device employs dozens of microphones to accurately pinpoint where sounds originate, offering finer resolution than commercial acoustic imaging systems, which trade detail for speed. This technology is significant for reducing airplane noise by identifying specific noise sources such as landing gear or wing flaps, enabling targeted design improvements or sound insulation. Reducing aircraft noise benefits passengers, pilots, and communities near airports, while also providing strategic advantages in military contexts. The collaboration between aerospace engineering and music highlights the value of integrating creative approaches with technical research, suggesting that such interdisciplinary methods may be key to solving complex problems like
acoustic-imagingnoise-reductionaerospace-engineeringmicrophone-arraysound-visualizationaircraft-noisestudent-innovationFlying taxi engines produce weird sound, but scientists have found a fix
energyelectric-vehiclesaviationnoise-reductionboundary-layer-ingesting-enginesgreen-technologyfuel-efficiency