In the ever-evolving automotive industry, the demand for superior sound quality and noise management has never been greater. Since 1986, HEAD acoustics has been one of the world’s leading companies in holistic sound and vibration analysis solutions.
The German company’s portfolio spans sound engineering and optimisation for technical products across all industries, environmental noise investigations, speech quality engineering, consulting, training, and support. Its solutions are tailored to meet specific challenges and delivered globally through subsidiaries in China, France, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the USA, alongside a robust network of sales partners worldwide.
All Around HEAD acoustics – All from One Source in India
Established in 2022, HEAD India provides comprehensive customer support directly within the country. Based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu – one of India’s three largest automotive manufacturing hubs – the team, led by Manjula Srinivas, offers full assistance on the HEAD acoustics product family, its applications, and related engineering services.
Interior and Exterior Sound & Active Sound Design in the Virtual Vehicle
HEAD acoustics’ expertise in automotive acoustics enables it to address the complexities of vehicle sound. Using advanced sound and vibration analysis, the company evaluates and optimises acoustic performance.
With the rise of electric mobility, active sound design has become an essential element of vehicle development. Innovative solutions allow manufacturers to create customised sound profiles that enhance the driving experience while meeting regulatory requirements.
A unique advantage lies in integrating the NVH driving simulator PreSense into the sound design process. This approach dramatically shortens development timelines, as engineers can experience their data interactively in virtual test drives. The results are so convincing and expressive that reliable assumptions about customer acceptance can be made before physical prototypes are built.
Virtual vehicle engineering is key to efficient product development, enabling accurate prediction of sound behaviour and significant reductions in time and cost. For an even more immersive experience, the NVH simulation SoundSeat allows users to accelerate, brake, and shift gears while the system adapts sounds and vibrations in real time.
Transfer Path Analysis and Sound Source Localisation
HEAD acoustics’ product range elevates NVH engineering to the next level. The HEADlab modular multi-channel data acquisition system for sound and vibration management is suited even for demanding mobile applications. It offers high data rates, CAN-FD support, and GPS/LAN (PTP) synchronisation capabilities.
The HMS V digital artificial head combines cutting-edge technology, flexibility, and ease of use. Featuring Dual ADC technology (two parallel analog-to-digital converters), it covers the entire audible dynamic range, eliminating the need for measuring range changes.
Transfer Path Analysis (TPA) is a cornerstone of HEAD acoustics’ NVH services. By analysing how sound and vibration propagate through a vehicle, unwanted noise sources can be identified and addressed. The latest Virtual Point Transformation (VPT) in ArtemiS SUITE 17 enables engineers to “place” a sensor in locations where physical sensors cannot be installed, deriving forces, moments, and accelerations at user-defined virtual points within the TPA model. Built-in quality metrics ensure confidence in every virtual channel, transforming raw data into actionable insights in minutes.
For pinpointing noise origins, the VMA acoustic camera offers real-time and slow-motion sound source localisation. Using beamforming technology, it enables engineers to “hear with their eyes” and visually determine the exact position of sound sources within a sound field.