ZF Reveals What the Future Sounds like in Software-Defined Vehicles

In-vehicle tire noise is an unwelcome intrusion that can travel through chassis components, such as control arms and dampers. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), ZF is presenting its new "Active Noise Reduction" software function, which reduces this type of noise at the source without additional noise dampening hardware in the vehicle. The purely software-based function for the chassis significantly minimizes annoying tire noise in the interior. In the future, the technology group will expand the use of the function to other ZF chassis actuators.  The software-based solution uses ZF’s Smart Chassis Sensor with an integrated acceleration sensor to precisely measure vibrations transmitted from the tires to the vehicle via the chassis. The vibration data is analyzed using a specially developed algorithm that recognizes the characteristic noise patterns of tire cavity noise (typically around 200 hertz). The software then generates a counter-signal provided by ZF’s cubiX software via the valves of semi-active dampers (CDC). The function uses micro-movements of the damper to specifically reduce the noise interference without impairing the actual damper function. "Active Noise Reduction is an excellent example of how we use smart algorithms to make ZF components even more efficient. This gives our semi-active CDC dampers a clear unique selling point in the market and sets new standards in comfort – without the need for any additional noise dampening hardware," says Dr. Peter Holdmann, member of the ZF Board of Management and head of Division Chassis Solutions.