CFD Research recently put their SonoProTM hearing protection technology through Operation Tech Warrior, a multi-day immersive operational training and testing event conducted by the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) in Dayton, OH. The Tech Warrior program provides an opportunity for AFRL scientists and engineers to test, experiment and otherwise showcase and demonstrate state-of-the-art warfighting technologies in a realistic operational environment.
The Tech Warrior team chose CFD Research’s SonoPro passive non-linear hearing protection technology as a worthy candidate for demonstration and evaluation. SonoPro’s patent-pending protection technology works by cancelling out higher harmful noise (gunfire, blast) that would normally cause pain or damage to the ear (130 dB+) while allowing conversational level noise (50 dB to 75 dB) with little to no distortion or attenuation. In military operations and first-responder use for example, being able to hear, and understand clearly, conversations and ambient sounds is essential to maintain localization/directionality. Too often warfighters forgo hearing protection to maintain battlefield awareness resulting in devastating long terms hearing loss effect.
Scores of operators utilized pre-production prototypes of the passive SonoPro hearing protection device during the operational exercises which included “quiet” scenes requiring situational awareness and conversation ability coupled with “active” scenes including gunfire and explosions. “The feedback we received from the operators was very positive, with comfort, noise blocking, and conversational pass-through capabilities being highly rated,” said Keith Sedberry, CFD Research Principal Engineer. “The experience was very beneficial and we learned, as expected, that our single size prototype does not fit all and are working multiple sizes into our production plans.”
Operation Tech Warrior operators fitted out with SonoPro hearing protection devices
About SonoProtech: SonoProtech is a technology spin-out of CFD Research Corporation. SonoProtech’s technology has been developed over the past 7 years in conjunction with various government agencies. It has undergone preliminary testing and evaluation during government R&D projects. The patent-pending protection technology works by cancelling out higher harmful noise that would normally cause pain or damage to the ear (130 dB+) while allowing conversational level noise (50 dB to 75 dB) with little to no distortion or attenuation. Learn more at www.sonoprotech.com.
About CFD Research Corporation: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has worked with government agencies, businesses and academia to provide innovative solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and Energy & Materials industries. Over the years CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100 registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for services.
