Wireless-communication integrated hybrid active noise control system for infant incubators: Improve health outcomes and bonding

Abstract

This research proposes to develop a wireless communication integrated hybrid active noise control (ANC) system for infant incubators. The integrated ANC system will reduce the level of noise in the infant's ear and provide two-way wireless communication between infant and his/her parents/caregivers both inside and outside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The proposed system will use the ANC technique to reduce the harmful noise. The wireless communication system will be used to reduce stress and improve bonding and language development. The real-time experiments show that the proposed system can significantly reduce the noise exposure to the infants who are placed in infant incubators. Consequently, a reduction in the health risk produced by high-level noise in NICU and improved bonding opportunities for infants and their parents will be seen.