29 · Saturday, December 26, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com New 'Noise Vision' technology allows Ford to see and eliminate unwanted sounds Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine Ford is using a new technology that allows engineers to actually see unwanted sounds and eliminate them during vehicle development to ensure new vehicles have the quietest interior cabins. Ford is the first automaker in North America to use the new "Noise Vision" tool, which is part of Ford's drive to lead the industry in top vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Customers connect an ultraquiet cabin with overall product quality and satisfaction, and quietness is one of the top reasons to buy a vehicle, according to thirdparty customer satisfaction studies. Noise Vision is a small sphere that is placed inside the vehicle cabin. It is equipped with more than 30 highly sensitive microphones and 12 special cameras. Powerful software reads data from Noise Vision and creates a computerized image showing interior noise "hot spots," including wind noise, a squeak or rattle, or unwanted feedback from the engine or the road. Ford began using Noise Vision - formally known as the Noise Source Identification Tool - to develop new vehicles for the 2010 model year. The high-tech tool's thermal imaging is similar to the kind used for military work and medical research. In the past, Ford engineers worked long and hard to identify unwanted rattles, squeaks or knocks. Finding an unwanted sound often was a process of elimination, which could take days or weeks. Noise Vision streamlines the process to hours, and it's saving money, too. In the past year alone, the technology has allowed Ford's North American NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) engineers to reduce 200 hours of wind tunnel testing time a year - saving more than $300,000 in testing costs. KENNEDY FORD OPEN SATURDAY WE'RE EEK GIVING AWAY... DEC. 26 NAL W FI 9-5PM OAKVILLE'S ORIGINAL DEALER $ $ 0 BUY A NEW OR USED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER TO QUALIFY * 5000 $ QEW @ DORVAL 280 SOUTH SERVICE RD. cash 00 0 S % 10,000 1,000 QEW WYECROFT OAKVILLE 905.845.1646 www.kennedyford.ca *New or used retail sales only. Fleet, as is. and lease buyouts excluded.See Kennedy Ford for details. DORVAL VAL