A Personal Active Communication Systme for Use in Extreme Noise Environments

"The Patuxent River Naval Air Warfare Center (Aircraft Division)is working towards the completion of a personal double hearingprotection (DHP) communication system for use in extreme noiseenvironments. This Phase II program has been designed to finishthe identification of best-possible performance for DHPcommunication systems, followed by successful prototyping of asystem that will be available for Phase III manufacturing andacquisition. The Phase II component development will launch fromsuccessful Phase I prototypes (e.g. ACCES, the QuietCommTMtechnology, and improved headset noise attenuation), leading totwo successive generations of DHP system prototypes delivered tothe Navy at the midterm and final month of the project,respectively. The prototypes will integrate R&D-basedimprovements in passive noise attenuation characteristics, aswell as state-of-the-art features in noise canceling microphones,ANR system designs, and wireless technologies.BENEFITS: The benefits of the extreme-noise, personal active communication system for U.S. Navy personnel include significantly reduced occurrences of hearing loss and improved battle situation readinessthrough improved speech intelligibility between tower, cockpit, and flight deck personnel. Additional DOD applications include tank pilots, crewmen in the U.S. Marine's AAAV, and shipboard engine room crew. Commercialization of the advanced ANR earplugand noise-reduction microphone will be ap