EU research project BEAT - ZeMA gGmbH Saarbrücken

BEAT - Bass speaker with dielectric elastomer actuator

In the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (short: The ERDF-funded project investigates the use of dielectric elastomers as a drive for bass speakers. Both the dynamic behavior of DE membranes, their control and the necessary electronics are investigated.

Stamer Musikanlagen GmbH, St. Wendel and the Center for Mechatronics and Automation Technology (ZeMA) gGmbH, Saarbrücken are working together in this project.

problem

Bass speaker systems, especially for event sound systems, are currently characterized by high weight and high electrical currents required for operation.
As part of the research project between Stamer Musikanlagen GmbH, St. Wendel and the Center for Mechatronics and Automation Technology gGmbH, Saarbrücken, a new drive technology for bass speaker systems is to be developed, which addresses both disadvantages.
The research focuses on the development of a novel membrane drive based on dielectric elastomeractors (DEAs).

objective

• Significant weight reduction due to the elimination of heavy magnetic drives and the resulting additional cost advantage (lower mechanical requirements)
• Elimination of increasingly scarce rare earth resources in loudspeaker production, mainly mined in the Far East
• Exploitation of possible cost advantages on the drive (low-cost polymer-based raw materials)
• Significant increase in energy efficiency and associated authorisation facilitations
The aim of the project is to produce a first prototype. This will consist of a fully functional, lighter bass speaker, which will be metrologically validated in comparison with conventional bass speakers and used to evaluate the technology potential.

approach

In essence, three components of active loudspeakers need to be investigated and further developed in this project: the sound-generating membrane, its drive and the amplifier electronics.
The sound-generating membrane must be adapted to the needs of DEAs with regard to its mechanical properties, taking into account its acoustic properties.
The DEAs themselves must be optimized for the desired frequency range in terms of their dynamic behavior and their nonlinear behavior must be accurately characterized. This information then also flows into the development of the amplifiers. In addition, the amplifiers must generate high voltages instead of the usually high currents. This necessitates the development of a new type of amplifier technology. Therefore, a close cooperation between the two research centres with their respective know-how (ZeMA: DEA development, integration and high voltage generation; Stamer: Acoustics of membranes and amplifier electronics) are required.

Recovery concept:

The use of significantly lighter woofers with a significantly higher system efficiency will enable Stamer Musikanlagen GmbH to achieve a significantly higher market position in the field of active bass speakers. Since it can be assumed that many customers also want to buy the corresponding mid-high frequency units from the same manufacturer, a noticeable effect will also be expected on other product groups.

In addition, a marketing of woofers to other manufacturers is also conceivable, which represents a new business area with enormous market potential, which is briefly presented in terms of volume in the following.

On the part of the ZeMA, the research results are used to apply for and carry out further research projects. In addition, the resulting findings and laboratory setups are used for teaching (including final theses).

Duration: 01.03.2019 - 28.02.2021

Funded by: