Eurocopter’s latest development the EC225 joins their Super Puma family of helicopters. The new helicopter has lower cabin noise than the Super Pumas by about 3dB. In addition, an active vibration control system reduces vibration levels to about 0.08g.

Read the news article on the Rotor Hub web site.

Read more about the EC225 on the Eurocopter web site.

LMS International have started a subsidiary company called Noesis Solutions that is focusing process integration and design optimisation.

Read more on the LMS web site.

Sonion manufacture two types of microphones using MEMS technology. One is for mobile devices such as PDAs and mobile telephones, the other is for hearing aids. These microphones are *small* – 3mm^3.

Read more on the Sonion web site.

Bang and Olufsen have released the Beolab5 loudspeakers that calibrate themselves according to the acoustics within the room, and have a acoustic lenses to create a flat directivity pattern. The acoustic lense technology is licensed from Sausolito Audio Works.

See the specifications on the Bang and Olufsen web site.

An experiment is being conducted on the International Space Station that involves testing of magneto-rheological fluid. The experiment is called Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE).

Read the background on the NASA web site, and the ISS status report #30.

Knowles Acoustics (formerly Emkay Innovative Products), a division of Knowles Electronics are now mass producing a surface mounted microphone called the SiSonic, that uses MEMS technology.

Note that Knowles also produce a small condenser microphone (2.5×2.5mm).

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a prototype brick that contains a thermistor, two-axis accelerometer, multiplexer, transmitter, antenna and battery. The brick could be used to monitor the ‘health’ of the building such as temperatures, or vibration.

Read the media release on the UIUC web site.

American Technology Corporation has signed deals with Sony Business Europe and iPort Media to use their HyperSonic Sound Source (HSS) technology. Their technology involves the use of ultrasonic sound that creates highly directional audible sound.

In addition, ATC have also announced the release of their second generation HSS. Read their press release here.

A pianist GéNIA from the Ukraine will perform at the Purcell Room in London, several pieces from composers such as Philip Glass and Arvo Pärt during which researchers from the National Physical Laboratory will generate infrasound at a frequency of 17Hz from a loudspeaker attached to a 7m (23ft) length of sewer pipe. The audience will be asked to complete a questionnaire on mood and emotion, designed by the psychologists Ciaran O’Keeffe and Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University, both before and after listening to each piece of music. The results will be analysed to determine whether and how the vibrations have an effect.

“Infrasonic” concerts on Saturday, May 31, 3pm and 5pm, Purcell Room. Tickets are available from the Royal Festival Hall.

Owens Corning Automotive division displayed their VersaMat (TM) product family at SAE NVH 2003. VersaMat is a range of thermal and acoustic insulating materials for use on automotive applications such as insulating doors, dash and drive shaft tunnel and more.

Read the press release on the Owens Corning web site.