SBIR Phase II: A Robust and Cost-Effective Tool for Diagnosing Manufacturing Noise Problems

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop and commercialize a next generation quality control tool to assess the quality of any sound-generating product on a production line. The most significant scientific merit of this new technology is its capability to suppress the interference of background noise and extract the real acoustic characteristics of any target source in a noisy environment. Current measurement devices measure the overall signal, which includes the signal of a target source and background noise. This research is expected to have broad impact on reducing noise pollution and improving workforce capabilities in a manufacturing environment. This technology will help the U.S. manufacturers to compete globally by reducing noise emissions, lowering warranty costs associated with noise related issues, and helping ensure compliance with a growing number of local and federal government regulations and laws on noise pollution.