This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Christopher Fuller of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Dr. Dolin Hansen of Adelaide University for a two year period. The cooperative work is to explore control of interior noise in aircraft using vibration inputs applied to the fuselage. In particular, the study compares using transputer/communi- cations systems and those using digital signal processing systems for noise control. Areas to be examined include research on faster input-output control of noise, advanced noise sensors, and understanding of fuselage scaling effects on noise control. The project represents excellent collaboration between the U.S. and Australian researchers. The Australian group is approaching the control problem with the use of transputer/ communications systems, which are configured to many input output channels at high speed. The system at Virginia Polytechnic Institute is implemented on a digital signal processing chip, limited in terms of input and output channels. The research has the potential to advance an increase in control channels without sacrifice of control speed, and lead to more rapid implementation of effective noise control systems in aircraft. Application of the results to other areas such as underwater acoustics and industrial noise control are also expected. This action provides funds for Dr. Fullerr's travel in the first year of the project. Funding for the second year is contingent upon the Australian Government's approval and continued provision of funds for Adelaide's part of the cooperative project.
