Directed Audio Emission for Autonomous Vehicle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and electric vehicles pose safety challenges due to their quiet operation, making it difficult for pedestrians, cyclists, and animals to detect their presence, leading to potential safety situations in shared environments.
Innovation Solution
Directed audio emission systems that use sensors and phased array audio transmitters to emit focused audio based on detected objects and their characteristics, ensuring safety and communication while minimizing ambient noise pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If autonomous and electric vehicles operate quietly, then energy efficiency is improved, but safety is worsened because pedestrians and cyclists cannot detect the vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces audio transmitters as an intermediary device that generates audible warnings to bridge the gap between the quiet vehicle and the surrounding environment. The audio transmitter converts electrical energy into audible sound waves that alert pedestrians and cyclists to the vehicle's presence, allowing the vehicle to maintain quiet operation while improving safety detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes acoustic parameters (volume, frequency, direction) based on detected objects and safety conditions. When pedestrians or cyclists are detected nearby, the system adjusts audio output parameters to ensure adequate warning is provided while maintaining energy efficiency during normal operation.
2Reliability
If audio warnings are emitted continuously, then safety is improved, but noise pollution is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous audio emission, the system uses periodic action by only emitting audio warnings when safety conditions require them. The controller continuously monitors the environment and triggers audio warnings only when pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users are detected in proximity, thereby improving safety while minimizing noise pollution during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio warnings are directed locally toward detected objects rather than being emitted omnidirectionally. The system uses directional audio transmission to focus sound waves specifically at pedestrians or cyclists that require warning, reducing unnecessary noise propagation to other areas and minimizing overall noise pollution while maintaining effective safety communication.
3Loss of information
If audio alerts are directed at specific objects, then communication effectiveness is improved, but system complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical directional control systems with electronic audio processing. The controller uses software algorithms to analyze sensor data and determine appropriate audio directions, replacing what would otherwise require complex mechanical steering mechanisms. This substitution maintains communication effectiveness while reducing mechanical system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data from various detectors, identifies objects of interest, determines safety conditions, and controls audio output direction and intensity. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate specialized systems into a single controller, improving communication effectiveness while managing system complexity through integration.
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
The system effectively improves safety and communication between autonomous vehicles and other entities by emitting targeted audio alerts and information, reducing noise pollution and ensuring only relevant parties receive the audio cues.
Implementation Method 1
phased array audio transmitters to emit focused audio based on detected objects and their characteristics
Implementation Method 2
Directed audio emission systems that use sensors and phased array audio transmitters to emit focused audio
Data Source
AI summary
Directed audio-encoded data emissions systems and methods may include one or more sensors, one or more audio transmitters, and a controller configured to cause emission of directed audio-encoded data toward various objects, such as vehicles, user devices, audio input/output devices, or others. For example, responsive to detecting a potential safety situation and/or a potential intended communication situation associated with one or more detected objects, audio-encoded data having selected audio characteristics may be emitted toward the detected objects using selected audio transmitters. The audio characteristics may be selected to encode one or more instructions to be executed by the detected objects, and the instructions may cause emission of audio, visual, or haptic notifications and/or initiation of various functions or operations by the objects.