Who is using Acoustic Imaging?
Consultants
Research & Development
Environmental Noise
Aerospace
Automotive
Building Acoustics
Manufacturing & Industrial
Natural Sciences
Consumer Electronics
Regulatory Compliance
Engineers & Architects
Transit
Academic Research
Automotive Repair
Consultants
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. If you need to convince your client as to what is causing the noise, then there is nothing like a picture. It’s easy and quick
This is why many Sound & Vibration consultants are now using acoustic-cameras to provide near-instant value to their services. The SoundCam and other CAE beamforming and imaging tools allow them to quickly assess a situation and evaluate potential corrective actions on the spot.
While the SoundCam is small and truly portable it does not fit all consultant’s needs (such as imaging lower frequencies which is a function of the microphone size), CAE has you covered with other products.
Learn more about other CAE beamforming, 3D beamforming, holography, and intensity imaging products.
Research & Development
Trying to find what is making noise in your product?
The SoundCam can very quickly identify what is making the noise which saves time and resources.
Environmental Noise
Environmental noise can be a large issue and sometimes the problem is identifying noise sources and locating the primary noise source.
Beamforming can show you all the noise sources and their levels, so you know where to start.
Sometimes the problem is identifying the primary noise source. Beamforming can show you all the noise sources and their levels, so you know where to start.
Aerospace
The SoundCam is small and self-contained. It’s great for measuring inside aircraft. No external computer is required though it can be connected to a computer and a larger screen and the time signal from all 64 microphones can be streamed to that computer for later analysis.
Automotive
The SoundCam was designed specifically for Squeak and Rattle work. Small, light, all in one package, and extremely easy to use. Any engineer or technician can pick it up and within a very few minutes, making measurements and making probable diagnoses.
Building Acoustics
Finding Leaks in Facade Elements
Some Sample Text
Manufacturing & Industrial
Acoustic beamforming is used in manufacturing and industrial applications in many different ways including:
- Identify noise sources for reduction.
- Determine if something is running or operating.
- Diagnosis if something is operating correctly. Compare against previous measurements.
- Predictive failures. Determine is a roller is delaminating by looking at its acoustic signature.
- Quickly and efficiently locate leaks air or gas pipes. It might even possible to quantify the dollar loss based on the type of gas, its frequency and amplitude.
- Assembly line QC/Quality Assurance. Acoustic signatures are used in assembly line (component or EOL/end-of-line) testing to determine if a product is made correct and operating as designed. Removing defects prior to boxing, shipping, and ultimately the customer goes a long way to minimizing returns and increasing customer satisfaction.
Natural Sciences
With the SoundCam, birds, animals, and insects can easily be located in trees, grass, and underbrush when they make their natural sounds and calls. It’s even possible to ignore other animals by focusing on a specific frequency of the species of interest.
Consumer Electronics
Beamforming and SoundCam can be used in consumer electronics to quickly identify noises for noise reduction and quality.
Regulatory Compliance
Have you ever got a complaint about the noise level being too high, especially when you have multiple competing noise sources? Acoustic Beamforming can help identify how much each noise source is contributing. Sound Power can also be estimated using Acoustic Beamforming.
Engineers & Architects
There are many ways Engineers and architects can use Acoustic Beamforming. Engineers and Architects have used Acoustic Beamforming to locate direct reflections in performing arts centers that interfere with stage performers, speaker podiums, and problem areas in the audience. It was even used in evaluating the acoustic properties of several governing chambers of the State of Minnesota.
Transit
Acoustic Beamforming has been used to evaluate several aspects of transit from stations to the transit system including trains and businesses. It could be used to look to locate squeaks in tracks or train cars, locate an annoying reflection in a transit stop/station, or evaluate the general noise from an operating line.
Academic Research
Academia can use Acoustic Beamforming for many projects from the facility issues, looking for interference in a lab or room, research in products, or locating or imaging of animals and insects or other natural sounds.
Automotive Repair
Besides Squeak and Rattle noises other sounds that might be maintenance issues are easily located. Being able to see a “clunk” or “Squeak” is very helpful in quickly diagnosing an issue. Determine within 5-10 seconds which of the 5 belts is squeaking!
How is Acoustic Imaging being used?
Noise Reduction
HVAC & Air Handling
Construction Noise
Failing Parts / Fault Detection
Squeak & Rattle
Building Deficiencies
Leak Detection
Interior Noise
Performing Arts
Machine Diagnostics
Aircraft & Drones
OSHA
Noise Reduction
The SoundCam is being used to identify noise sources in the environment and within manufacturing plants. It quickly allows you to identify noise sources so they can be ranked allowing you to be efficient and get the most noise reduction for your time spent and the dollar.
HVAC & Air Handling
Acoustic Beamforming has been used to locate and compare noisy vents. It is being used in locating sound leaks in access doors on chillers and exchangers. It has been used to measure the chiller’s contribution to overall noise in office complexes and residential condos.
Construction Noise
Construction noise can be an issue depending on the location. The SoundCam’s triggering allows you to trigger and image the sound when these events occur. It can be used by manufacturers of small and large equipment to reduce noise from their products reducing noises at the job site.
Failing Parts / Fault Detection
Just like in vibration, the SoundCam and acoustic beamforming could be used to identify faults and failing equipment. By establishing an acoustic spectrum baseline, one might tell if components are failing. Looking for failing parts, such as bearings and fast-moving delamination of wheels, is easily done with the 100 acoustic frames-per-second.
Squeak & Rattle
Squeak and Rattle is one of the costliest warranty items. Automotive and other manufacturs are reducing warranty work by using acoustic cameras to quickly locate the noise issues within the cab.
The SoundCam was pretty much built for this purpose and is used by hundreds of automotive shops to reduce warranty costs by finding the problem the first time while minimizing repeat complaints and unnecessary work. We’re pretty sure this type of effective work increases customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Building Deficiencies
Use the SoundCam to help detect deficiencies in construction projects. You can quickly look for leaks in windows and doors, study the effectiveness of products, and locate flanking of sounds that might affect the building or its end-user.
Leak Detection
Interior Noise
Performing Arts
Machine Diagnostics
Aircraft & Drones
OSHA
SoundCam is extremely useful in identifying and rating noise sources. Point at a source and the sound level at the receiver’s position is provides. With multiple surces in an area, sometimes it difficult to know which one or ones are the major contributors. Find the loudest and work on it first. You may not have to reduce all of them. Acoustic Camera technology can save time and money in reducing noise in a plant.