A Nissan innovation that can help make cars quieter and more energy-efficient has won an award from Popular Science.
The noise-reducing technology, known as acoustic meta-material, received a 2020 Popular Science Best of What’s New Award in the automotive category.
Established in 1872, Popular Science is one of the U.S.’s oldest and most trusted brands, reporting on ground-breaking innovations and discoveries.
The Best of What’s New Awards recognise breakthrough products and technologies that represent significant advancements in their categories.
Nissan’s acoustic meta-material is a new lightweight sound insulation material. Its make-up is simple: A combination of a lattice structure and plastic film controls air vibrations to limit the transmission of wide frequency band noise (500-1200 hertz), such as road and engine noise.
While most materials used to isolate this frequency band consist mainly of heavy rubber board, Nissan’s acoustic meta-material is a quarter the weight yet provides the same degree of sound isolation.
The material represents a breakthrough by Nissan engineers in their effort to offer customers a relaxing, quiet cabin while reducing vehicle weight and thereby improving mileage.
Susumu Miura, Nissan’s advanced material engineer in charge of the acoustic meta-material project, said: “We plan to use meta-material in a wide range of applications – not only in luxury cars and electric vehicles, but also in vehicles where the use of heavy sound insulation materials has been limited.
“Through development and use of this material, we aim to make our customers’ driving experience more comfortable and enjoyable.”
Acoustic meta-material is currently under development for commercialisation and represents how Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology is being developed to enhance the driving experience.
