SonoBlind Air® is an innovative modular panel that offers a unique blend of airflow (up to 33% of the area available) and noise reduction (up to 95%, over 5 octaves). While traditional acoustic solutions are bulky and can only absorb or block noise, SonoBlind Air® eliminates noise using the same physics as noise-cancelling headphones. But instead of electronics, it’s the geometrical construction of SonoBlind Air® that provides the noise-cancelling effect. The panels act like the interferential filters that been used for centuries in light applications, thus bridging the development gap between sound and light.
Our panels weigh a third of traditional noise reduction solutions, use one-twelfth of the space, and allow air and light to pass through—all while performing at a superior level. This means they effectively solve the challenge of balancing noise reduction with airflow in warm indoor spaces and around equipment, where space is often tight.
Our mission doesn’t stop at reducing noise—we’re passionate about sustainability, too. Noise has been a barrier to the adoption of green technologies like heat pumps and offshore wind turbines in residential areas. But SonoBlind Air® effectively cancels the noise associated with these technologies, making them more viable and speeding up the journey to net zero. We’re also exploring greener production methods, such as incorporating the use of recycled plastics and designing recyclable products.
QinetiQ and Metasonixx have collaborated to’ show how SonoBlind Air® panels can be engineered to replace the grille in front of a vehicle’s engine, providing temperature cooling and noise reduction.
In conventional vehicle designs, noise reduction is achieved by adding mass between the noise source and the external environment, a technique that commonly limits airflow and hinders ventilation. QinetiQ and Metasonixx have recently conducted experiments at QinetiQ’s metamaterials hub in Farnborough, where they achieved up to 90% noise reduction with SonoBlind Air®. Both companies are now working to advance and expand this technology for use in both civil and military applications.
Homes
Offices
Sonoblind® Air 5%