Genesis GV80 has active noise cancelling developed by Harman.
Hyundai and Samsung-owned Harman say the new Genesis GV80 luxury SUV features the same noise-cancelling technology as used by premium headphones.
As any frequent flyer will likely know, headphones with active noise cancelling (ANC) use microphones on the outside to hear ambient sounds – like the drone of an airplane cabin – then work out the opposite waveforms, and play that into your ears.
The result is a dramatic reduction in background noise, and this is exactly what Hyundai’s premium US brand Genesis is hoping to achieve with the new GV80.
Called Road-Noise Active Noise Control (RANC), Hyundai and Harman say the system “reduces the in-cabin noise level by cancelling out unwanted sound originating from the tyres and road surfaces while driving.”
It is no surprise that Harman and car manufacturers want to cut down on the background thrum of road noise. A survey conducted by the audio company found road noise to be the biggest auditory distraction reported by drivers.
The Genesis GV80
While passive noise cancelling techniques can block out some of this, they add weight and complexity where Hyundai and Harman believe microphones, speakers and an audio processor can do just as good of a job.
Exactly how the system works is pretty complex, so here’s Harman’s take on exactly what’s going on beneath the surface:
“The RANC control processor uses reference signals received from acceleration sensors placed strategically along the suspension and chassis to predict noise transferred into the cabin and to generate an anti-noise wave in real-time.
“Compute time and signal transfer speed are optimized to allow for an analysis of the intruding noise and the generation of the anti-noise within milliseconds, thereby preventing the noise from reaching the occupants’ ears. Error microphones constantly monitor the system performance in each seat location to ensure a more pleasant ride for all vehicle occupants.”
The need for such a system stems from the increased size and therefore weight of modern cars, paired with demand from drivers for cars which feel sharper and sportier to drive – which means they are firmer, and create more road noise.
Although Harman and Hyundai claim this is the first use of ANC in a car to specifically combat the drone of road noise, Ford included a more general application of Active Noise Control in its Mondeo Vignale back in 2015. That system also used microphones to cancel out unwanted noises and create a quieter cabin.
Harman itself also worked with Lotus in 2009, but while noice cancellation prototypes were built, the system didn’t make it into mass production.
