But getting the system to market may be harder than it seems, said Gary Koopmann, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Center for Acoustics and Vibration at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
"The main hurdle to transition it into a practical application is the cost," said Koopmann. Every window needs to be wired and maintained, which adds to the bottom line.
In addition, different kinds of sound, particularly those that are steady, are easier for the computer controller to respond to rapidly and generate an appropriate noise-canceling vibration. Sounds that disappear or change quickly are more difficult to manage, he said.
"For airport noise, the noise is transient. To have a control system respond instantly to a transient sound coming in is nearly impossible," he said.
Bein and his team will be working over the next year to make the system reliable and bring the cost down.
