Active Quiet Bunks for Submarine Crews

This project will focus on developing, constructing, and demonstrating operational readiness of a combined compact Active Headrest(AH) and a lightweight Acoustic Meta Material(AMM) curtain for reducing noisein submarine bunks environments to specified DON sound levels. Both AH and AMM have been developed as products by SMD, team member FTI, and commercialization partner Harman International forhospital environments. The existing technology will be adapted and designed for reducing noise and maximizing restful sleep in submarine bunks. AH modifications include narrowing the overall width to fit theNavy bunk, Virtual Error Sensor technology, hybrid feedforward/feedback control, and an improved DSP system. The AMM will be redesigned to use thinner, flexible microporous inserts to achieve a lightweight,flexible curtain like material. A prototype of the AH and AMM curtain will be constructed and tested in a mockup of a bunk environment using realistic DON noise signals to demonstrate the proof of concept ofthe approach. The prototype system will be hardened in conjunction with relevant stakeholders including DON and potentially Newport News Shipbuilding and a product designed, fabricated, and tested to demonstratecommercial viability. In the final phase, AH/AMM will be tested to demonstrate operational readiness in a target, operating, bunk environment.