Terma has signed an agreement with BAE Systems to integrate its active noise reduction (ANR) and 3D-Audio technologies with the latter’s pilot helmets.
Under the terms of agreement, the companies will initially work on a 3D-Audio / ANR headset for demonstration with BAE’s helmet, followed by final product development over the next three years.
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The companies will also perform aircraft integration and certification before the start of serial production of helmets.
Terma president and CEO Jens Maaloe said: "As a result of this agreement with BAE Systems, we expect to gain access to a significant market and increase exposure for these technologies globally.
"We look forward to the collaboration, which will also contribute to the further development and improvement of our active noise reduction and 3D-audio products."
BAE Systems group business development director Alan Garwood said: "Combining our expertise will keep our market-leading pilot helmets at the cutting-edge of technology.
"As well as investing finance and intellectual property in the project, BAE Systems will provide exposure to our global customer network for these two Terma technologies."
Terma’s ANR is an adaptable technology and can reduce pilot stress and fatigue, hearing loss and also improve speech intelligibility even in the noisiest aircraft platforms.
The system is installed in the F-16 and H-60 military aircraft cockpits, where it is claimed to have reduced the airborne or acoustically transmitted noise levels to less than 78 dBA.
The Terma 3D-Audio is designed to help pilots deal with threat warnings within a complete 360° sphere of the aircraft. It also alerts them from the exact direction of the danger and from when a threat changes path, which is particularly critical in the case of missiles.
Pilots with access to 3D-audio can initiate instant evasive manoeuvres without having to process any information mentally.
According to the companies, improving pilots’ situational awareness may also eventually benefit land vehicle operators.
Image: Terma president and CEO Jens Maaloe with BAE Systems’ Group Business Development director Alan Garwood. Photo: courtesy of © 2012 TERMA.
