Directional active noise control for drone noise reduction

Abstract

Drones have become essential tools for applications ranging from aerial surveillance to last-mile delivery, raising concerns about noise pollution in populated environments. This paper presents a directional active noise control (ANC) framework that targets far-field noise reduction, rather than local suppression. A virtual microphone-based ANC algorithm is employed, using a near-drone microphone array to attenuate noise in a specific region. Experiments in a semi-anechoic chamber show an average reduction of 4.78?dB in the 1500?2400?Hz band and up to 10?dB at harmonic frequencies, highlighting the promise of directional ANC for quieter drone operations in sensitive settings. Show more