Feonic is a commercial company specialising in the design and development of magnetostrictive audio products.

Products

The products use a responsive material that changes shape in a magnetic field. This material was developed for sonar devices by the US Navy but is now commercially available. The products developed by Feonic use the force created by the change in shape of this smart material to vibrate structures such as floors, windows, walls, and the acoustically conductive structures of ships to produce sound. The company's first consumer product, the SoundBug, led to the successful roll out of the Whispering Window, enabling shop windows to produce sound. The company has developed a new range of “F Drives” to create flat panel speakers with various applications in the transport, pro-audio, domestic, consumer and commercial markets. The company markets their products for use in a wide range of environments including train stations, shops, homes, and on boats. Alleged advantages over standalone speakers are described by customers as the systems' efficiency, ability to be integrated into structures and products, resistance to damage, and clarity.

Vibration Energy Harvesting

Utilising experience from audio, Feonic are developing a vibration energy harvesting device. The energy harvested is used for wireless sending of data - saving wiring and replacement of batteries. Primary market being wheel bearings for locomotives. The Solar Impulse Foundation added Feonic to their list of 1000+ Solutions for a Qualitative Economy.

History

The timeline below summarises how Feonic has developed: