Spherical Beamforming and Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (BSR) Testing 2009-01-2114

Control of annoying noises such as buzzes, squeaks and rattles (BSRs) is particularly important for complex products such as automobiles. This importance has become even more significant as electric vehicles become more popular, eliminating much of the ambient background vehicle noise. A customer's perception of the durability and solidness of a vehicle is based largely on sensory responses such as sound. Recent advances in beamforming technology have the potential to change the way BSR audits and vehicle development testing are done. This paper introduces the application of spherical beamforming technology to BSR testing and provides test results showing the localization accuracy of a rigid spherical array system in a vehicle cabin. The factors introducing the most significant error to beamforming accuracy in this application were identified as frequency of the source, the proximity of the source to reflective surfaces, and the presence of physical obstructions between the array and the source.