Special Session 2

SPECIAL SESSION #2

Sensors and Measurement Techniques for Improving Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) and Sound Quality in Automotive Industry

Andrea Toscani

University of Parma, Italy

• andrea.toscani@unipr.it

Daniel Pinardi

University of Parma, Italy

• daniel.pinardi@unipr.it

Angelo Farina

University of Parma, Italy

• angelo.farina@unipr.it

In the automotive industry, addressing Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) along with optimizing sound quality is critical for enhancing vehicle comfort, performance, reliability, and consumer satisfaction. Recent advancements in sensor technology, such as digital MEMS accelerometers and microphones, and real-time signal processing enable to install active sound and noise control systems in an increasingly wider range of vehicles. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in sound quality assessment is facilitating the development of predictive models and real-time monitoring systems. These innovations not only improve NVH performance but also contribute to a refined acoustic experience for passengers.

This special session welcomes research papers about sensors, instrumentation, and in-vehicle measurements for improving quality and reliability of NVH, as well as papers presenting case studies demonstrating how modern technologies are applied in the automotive industry to identify NVH issues, optimize design, and enhance the overall driving experience.

Topics of interest for this Special Session includes, but are not limited to:

• Characterization and effectiveness assessment of Active Noise Control (ANC) systems;
• Characterization and effectiveness assessment of Active Vehicle Alert Systems (AVAS);
• Characterization and effectiveness assessment of Independent Listening Zones;
• Distributed sensor networks for monitoring and active control of NVH characteristics;
• Design and characterization of sensors and measurement systems for vehicle sound system monitoring;
• Design and validation of metrics for the assessment of in-vehicle sound quality;
• Advanced techniques for in-vehicle measurement of acoustic material properties.

Andrea Toscani received the M.S. degree (cum laude) in electronic engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Information Technology from the University of Parma, Italy, in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Since 2004, he has been working with the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the same university, where he is currently a Research Fellow. His research activity is mainly focused on power electronics, high-performance electric drives for various industrial and consumer applications, diagnostic techniques for industrial electric systems and for aerospace and renewable energy applications, and power converter for audio application. He is the author or co-author of more than 45 papers on top-tier peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He was CEO of an academic spin-off company and holds three industrial patents.

Daniel Pinardi received the M.S. degree (cum laude) in mechanical engineering from the University of Parma, Italy, in July 2016, with a thesis on loudspeaker modeling, and the Ph.D. degree (Doctor Europaeus) in industrial engineering from the University of Parma, in March 2020, with a thesis on the design of microphone, hydrophone, and camera arrays for spatial audio and video recording.
He has been a Research Assistant of Prof. Angelo Farina at University of Parma since 2016, specialized in spatial audio, design of transducer arrays, acoustics simulations and 3D auralization, applied to automotive field, and underwater acoustics.

Angelo Farina received the M.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Bologna, Italy, in December 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in technical physics from the University of Bologna, in 1987. His research activity includes several fields of applied acoustics, including noise and vibration, concert hall acoustics, simulation software, advanced measurement systems, microphone, and loudspeaker arrays.
In May 2005, he became Full Professor of environmental applied physics with the University of Parma. He is the author of more than 300 scientific papers. Prof. Farina was awarded with the Audio Engineering Society Fellowship for his pioneering work on electroacoustic measurements based on exponential sine sweeps.