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Lotus Engineering has signed a deal with infotainment group Harman International to develop its noise management technology into systems that will be available to vehicle manufacturers worldwide.

The deal will see Harman subsidiary Harman Becker manufacture products devised from the application of Lotus's technologies in road noise and engine order cancellation and electronic sound synthesis.

Road noise cancellation and engine order cancellation are used to improve the in-cabin noise levels. Electronic systems determine signals required to cancel the noise from the road or from the engine and these are then generated through the entertainment system.

Electronic sound synthesis can be applied both externally and internally.

External systems apply specific noises to an exterior speaker system to improve pedestrian safety, and Lotus says these have particular application with electric and hybrid vehicles where the vehicle may not make enough noise for pedestrians to be aware of them.

Internal electronic sound synthesis allows engine noise and throttle-dependent sounds to be fed back into the vehicle cabin, creating effects that can vary from the "signature" the vehicle manufacturer wants through to noise to tell the driver the engine is switched on.

Lotus says that working systems of the technologies are available and ready for application to specific vehicles.