ArvinMeritor and NASA have announced a partnership to develop high-temperature electronic noise cancellation technology.

The goal is for ArvinMeritor, working with NASA's Langley Research Center, to improve fuel economy and sound quality. The work initially will be in the passenger car and light truck fields, but the technology will be adaptable to heavier vehicles.
According to Craig Simpson, president of ArvinMeritor Exhaust Systems, in an electronic muffler system, sensors in the exhaust system sense the pattern of exhaust sound waves and send data to an on-board computer that controls loudspeakers in the muffler. The computer signals the loudspeakers to generate sound that opposes the exhaust noise sound waves generated by the engine.
The improved durability speaker technology was originally developed for advanced aerospace vehicle concepts by researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. "The partnership between NASA and ArvinMeritor promises to revolutionize electronic noise cancellation technology. Our goal is to transfer this technology from aerospace to uses in widespread automotive applications," said Samuel Morello, director of technology commercialization for NASA.
In addition to electronic mufflers, a new Research and Innovation Group within ArvinMeritor is working on mufflers for cam-less engines. This new engine technology has variable timing, which impacts exhaust sounds significantly.
International Truck and Engine Co. already has a cam-less DT-466 diesel under development. One was recently run in the annual Pikes Peak truck hill climb races. Several car companies have cam-less gasoline engines under development also.
ArvinMeritor Exhaust Systems is a business unit of ArvinMeritor and is the largest exhaust system manufacturer in the world, with customers in 17 countries on five continents. The company furnishes noise control systems for air induction as well as exhaust systems. Its plans include development of exhaust aftertreatment systems for diesel engine and truck manufacturers, which will be needed to meet EPA's 2007 exhaust emissions regulations.