Optimization of active surfaces for weight reduction in tomorrow’s cars

SME project (Faurecia Creo): Nicolas Pignier
Start: 2019

In line with global efforts to minimize fuel consumption, multi-functional solutions that contribute to weight reduction are particularly interesting. Moving-coil loudspeakers conventionally installed in today’s cars represent a significant share of the total vehicle’s weight: removing them in profit of smaller, lighter and cheaper actuators placed behind the roof or door panels (creating active surfaces) appears as an attractive solution. In addition to weight saving, such a solution provides reduced box volume allowing more innovative door designs and unconventional placement of loudspeakers. This study focuses on a particular aspect of the design of such active surfaces, namely the number and placement of the actuators on various surfaces starting from the example of a simple flat panel.