Mercedes-Benz designs new technology to protect your ears during car crashes
- 8 years ago
STUTTGART, GERMANY — Mercedes-Benz have installed new technology in its E-Class models that could protect drivers’ hearing during car crashes.
Human ears have a natural defense against loud noises called the “stapedius reflex”. This is triggered when exposed to intense sound levels of around 100 decibels. Upon hearing the sound, the stapedius muscle contracts and pulls the stapes away from the oval window of the cochlea and tenses the eardrum. It’s here that it reflects the noise, instead of transmitting it to the inner ear.
According to a post on the official Mercedes-Benz website, the company has installed a special sound chip in its new E-Class cars. This technology generates sound known as pink noise — played at a volume of 80 decibels — to prepare the ears before an accident. Since it is a spectrum of frequencies, it doesn’t need to be played at a high volume to trigger the stapedius reflex.
When the car detects an imminent accident, it automatically plays pink noise through the sound system. This is is said to protect the ears from the high level of noise that typically accompanies a crash.
Human ears have a natural defense against loud noises called the “stapedius reflex”. This is triggered when exposed to intense sound levels of around 100 decibels. Upon hearing the sound, the stapedius muscle contracts and pulls the stapes away from the oval window of the cochlea and tenses the eardrum. It’s here that it reflects the noise, instead of transmitting it to the inner ear.
According to a post on the official Mercedes-Benz website, the company has installed a special sound chip in its new E-Class cars. This technology generates sound known as pink noise — played at a volume of 80 decibels — to prepare the ears before an accident. Since it is a spectrum of frequencies, it doesn’t need to be played at a high volume to trigger the stapedius reflex.
When the car detects an imminent accident, it automatically plays pink noise through the sound system. This is is said to protect the ears from the high level of noise that typically accompanies a crash.