Road noise cancellation has long been a goal for automakers around the globe. Up until now most of the technology has been centered around materials that cannot completely block buzzing infrasound. After six years of research and development between Hyundai and some innovative partners from both industry and academia, they have announced their Road Noise Active Noise Control (RANC) system.
Slated for an upcoming Genesis model, the news release from Hyundai states, “The new system can analyze various types of noise in real-time and produce inverted soundwaves. For example, there are different types of road noises that the new technology can process, such as resonant sounds created between tires and wheels or rumble sounds coming up from the road.”
This new software-driven system can nullify noises that their previous Active Noise Control (ANC) technology could not. The existing ANC was only able to be utilized when noise was constant and the occurrence of the noise predictable, such as engine noise. With the first-ever RANC technology, Hyundai is able to greatly improve in-cabin quietness.
Research showed that road noise takes 0.009 seconds to reach the passenger, whereas the new RANC system only takes 0.002 seconds to analyze the noise and produce an inverted soundwave, generated by the Digital Signal Processor (DSP). RANC studies show it can eliminate road noise by 3 decibels, which reduces it to half of the current levels. Thanks to this achievement, Hyundai can potentially decrease the amount of unsprung weight in a vehicle, utilizing fewer sound-insulating parts and dampers as compared with those currently in use.
Looking to the future, the statement declares, “In-cabin quietness becomes more important as internal combustion vehicles are phased out. Vehicle interior noise primarily comes from three sources: Vehicle powertrain noise, road noise, and wind noise. There is almost no powertrain noise from electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, so quelling road and wind noise becomes even more imperative. Utilizing RANC can significantly reduce road noise and create a serene cabin for future electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.”
It seems as though the future is here, the future is now, and the future is quiet.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.