Nacre AS Company Center
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Nacre AS is the company behind the innovative QUIETPRO® Intelligent Hearing System.
The operational problems associated with exposure to noise include; increased levels of fatigue, lack of situation awareness and a break down in command and control due to the inability to send and receive intelligible radio communications. At all stages of tactical deployment a high level of communication clarity is vital. Intelligible communications at every level, up and down the command chain is the critical element to ensure that messages and commands are received without error, misunderstanding or delay.
Reducing the level of exposure to the constantly changing noise environment is the key challenge in providing protection and improving communications intelligibility. Across the operational deployment in or out of mobility platforms, the soldier is subjected to different noise types and at different levels; both continuous and impulsive noise.
Today’s rapid deployment and re-deployment operations require soldiers to transition between the mounted and dismounted role efficiently, without user intervention and reconfiguration of the communications equipment. The ability to maintain uninterrupted communications, a good resolution of localised situation awareness (during and immediately after exiting the platform) and maintaining maximum hearing protection is vital.
QUIETPRO® is the only tactical communication ancillary system that provides automatic hearing protection throughout the full spectrum of deployed operations; from the moment the operator leaves the operating base to their return. Hearing protection is ensured while the user is inserted or extracted on a range of mobility platforms; AFVs, LAVs, Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, watercraft / riverine platforms and fixed / rotary wing aircraft. This protection continues during the platform dismount and during the dismounted deployment.
Harmful high-level impulse noises, present during training and operations are isolated from the user through the use of advanced digital signal processing. Rather than simply clamping or compressing the unwanted impulse noise to a pre-determined level, the QUIETPRO® filters the harmful frequencies, instantly stopping them from reaching the users ears. Full natural hearing (situational awareness) is restored as soon as the harmful noise is no longer present.
QUIETPRO® employs an ‘in-the-ear’ headset; the lightweight and extremely ruggedized earpiece fits within the concha of the ear and does not obstruct the pinna (outer part). The pinna plays an important role in helping determine direction (localisation) of sounds in the users’ immediate surroundings. The stereo headset ensures that a high resolution of directionality is achieved.
Since QUIETPRO® entered operational service; more than 50,000 units have been fielded across 13 countries. More than 40,000 of these are in daily service with the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force and US Government Agencies.
The QUIETPRO® is unlike any other tactical communications headset, it is an advanced hearing system that continually adjusts its operation to the conditions that the soldier is subjected to in. Automatic hearing protection that requires no user intervention, no buttons to press or dials to turn, the soldier is able to focus on the really important aspects and objectives of the mission.
ENHANCED HEARING - BETTER PROTECTION - CLEARER COMMUNICATIONS
QUIETPRO® is a fully automated hearing and communication system, which enhances soldier’s hearing when needed and protects against temporary and permanent damage. It has been designed specifically to protect the soldier against the full range of battlefield noise in the mounted and dismounted role.
Exposure to high noise levels has long been recognised as an issue for infantry forces. The two types of noise, high steady (continuous) noise generated by vehicles or aircraft and high impulse noise generated by weapons or explosions are equally damaging in different ways. Soldiers who are exposed to these types of noise without adequate protection will suffer either temporary or permanent damage. Hearing damage is accumulative and irreversible.The operational problems associated with exposure to noise include; increased levels of fatigue, lack of situation awareness and a break down in command and control due to the inability to send and receive intelligible radio communications. At all stages of tactical deployment a high level of communication clarity is vital. Intelligible communications at every level, up and down the command chain is the critical element to ensure that messages and commands are received without error, misunderstanding or delay.
Reducing the level of exposure to the constantly changing noise environment is the key challenge in providing protection and improving communications intelligibility. Across the operational deployment in or out of mobility platforms, the soldier is subjected to different noise types and at different levels; both continuous and impulsive noise.
Today’s rapid deployment and re-deployment operations require soldiers to transition between the mounted and dismounted role efficiently, without user intervention and reconfiguration of the communications equipment. The ability to maintain uninterrupted communications, a good resolution of localised situation awareness (during and immediately after exiting the platform) and maintaining maximum hearing protection is vital.
QUIETPRO® is the only tactical communication ancillary system that provides automatic hearing protection throughout the full spectrum of deployed operations; from the moment the operator leaves the operating base to their return. Hearing protection is ensured while the user is inserted or extracted on a range of mobility platforms; AFVs, LAVs, Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, watercraft / riverine platforms and fixed / rotary wing aircraft. This protection continues during the platform dismount and during the dismounted deployment.
Harmful high-level impulse noises, present during training and operations are isolated from the user through the use of advanced digital signal processing. Rather than simply clamping or compressing the unwanted impulse noise to a pre-determined level, the QUIETPRO® filters the harmful frequencies, instantly stopping them from reaching the users ears. Full natural hearing (situational awareness) is restored as soon as the harmful noise is no longer present.
QUIETPRO® employs an ‘in-the-ear’ headset; the lightweight and extremely ruggedized earpiece fits within the concha of the ear and does not obstruct the pinna (outer part). The pinna plays an important role in helping determine direction (localisation) of sounds in the users’ immediate surroundings. The stereo headset ensures that a high resolution of directionality is achieved.
Since QUIETPRO® entered operational service; more than 50,000 units have been fielded across 13 countries. More than 40,000 of these are in daily service with the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force and US Government Agencies.
The QUIETPRO® is unlike any other tactical communications headset, it is an advanced hearing system that continually adjusts its operation to the conditions that the soldier is subjected to in. Automatic hearing protection that requires no user intervention, no buttons to press or dials to turn, the soldier is able to focus on the really important aspects and objectives of the mission.
Nacre operates from Norway, Sweden, UK and USA. Sperian Protection USA, Inc. acquired Nacre in 2007. Nacre now forms the core component of Sperian’s Intelligent Hearing ‘Centre of Excellence’ with Howard Leight®.
Products & Services
- Command and Control Systems and Components (C4I) (Defence)
- Military and Special Purpose Vehicles (Defence)
- NBC Equipment (Defence)
- Noise, Shock and Vibration Solutions (Defence)
- Personal Protection, Medical and Survival Equipment (Defence)
Last update by Neal Muggleton, Thu 9 Apr 2009
