Active noise control: Eight decades of research and applications

On January 27, 1933, Paul Lueg submitted his patent application for an active noise control system. In the intervening 80 years, the concept has progressed from simple single-input single-output feedback control systems through to complex MIMO approaches implementing a seemingly endless variety of control algorithms. Academic publications appear to continue at approximately a constant pace over the past decade, with much attention paid to algorithm refinement and development of applications. Commercial successes of active noise control include ANC headset in the aviation and consumer markets, as well as systems installed in passenger vehicle (some of which also incorporating active vibration control systems). This paper will provide a brief historical retrospective on the development of active noise control, and survey the current state of academic research as well as existing and proposed production applications (consumer, aviation, defense, etc.).