Acoustic Notifications for Pedestrian Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles, especially autonomous ones, face challenges in alerting pedestrians and other objects due to sub-optimal acoustic radiation patterns of traditional horns, which can be difficult to localize and may distract pedestrians, and electric vehicles are hard to detect audibly due to low noise levels, leading to inadequate reaction times for collision avoidance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of acoustic arrays on vehicles that use beam-formed audio signals and multi-channel speaker configurations to steer beams of acoustic energy, allowing pedestrians to localize the vehicle and determine its behavior through spatialized sounds, enhancing detection and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional horns are used for acoustic alerts, then the alert can be heard by pedestrians, but the acoustic radiation pattern is sub-optimal making it difficult to localize the source and potentially distracting pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoidpedestrian attention

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the acoustic alert function into multiple independent acoustic emitters arranged in arrays, allowing the sound field to be segmented and directed toward specific targets (pedestrians) rather than radiating uniformly in all directions like traditional horns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic energy is concentrated and directed locally toward the specific pedestrian or object that needs alerting, creating a focused acoustic beam rather than omnidirectional radiation, improving both localization and relevance to the target

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If electric vehicles operate quietly, then energy efficiency is improved, but the vehicle becomes difficult to detect audibly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidaudible detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic acoustic alerts emitted at strategically timed intervals to compensate for the vehicle's operational quietness, allowing energy-efficient operation while maintaining audible detectability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic emission parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) are dynamically adjusted based on vehicle speed, proximity to pedestrians, and environmental conditions to ensure detectability while minimizing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If acoustic alerts are emitted to alert pedestrians, then collision avoidance is improved, but the reaction time required is insufficient for close-encounter scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidreaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system emits acoustic alerts in advance before the vehicle reaches close proximity to pedestrians, providing earlier warning and extending the pedestrian's reaction time to respond safely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the acoustic environment and pedestrian responses, adjusting alert timing and intensity based on feedback from sensors that detect pedestrian awareness and movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables pedestrians to more effectively identify and respond to autonomous vehicles, increasing safety by improving audible detection and reducing the volume of sound needed, thus preventing collisions and unsafe approaches.

Implementation Method 1

Acoustic arrays can include speakers configured to output beams of acoustic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeam forming:

Implementation Method 2

a pedestrian (or other external object) proximate a vehicle (e.g., an autonomous vehicle) can hear a sound (e.g., resulting from the speakers emitting the beam-formed audio signals) and can identify a source of the sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStereoscopic hearing:

Data Source

PatentUS10414336B1Acoustic notifications

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 ZOOX INC

AI summary

Techniques for using acoustic notifications output via a multi-channel speaker configuration for pedestrian notification are described. Computing device(s) can determine a plurality of signals for dynamically emitting a plurality of sounds via a plurality of speakers associated with an acoustic array disposed on a vehicle. Each signal of the plurality of signals can be emitted from speaker(s) of the plurality of speakers that is/are associated with a particular channel of a plurality of channels. Furthermore, the computing device(s) can cause a portion of the plurality of speakers to dynamically emit the plurality of sounds so that the plurality of sounds are spatialized across the at least one surface of the vehicle. As a result, a pedestrian proximate the vehicle can localize the vehicle as a source of the acoustic notification and perceive a size, or other geometric characteristic, of the vehicle.