Virtual Gear Shift Audio Playback for Electric Vehicle Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric road vehicles with electric power trains lack the auditory feedback and driver involvement associated with gear shifting, reducing driving pleasure and performance awareness compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A control method for electric road vehicles that simulates the sound of gear shifting by using a memory unit with audio files corresponding to predefined operational configurations, detected by an electronic control unit and played through a reproduction system, allowing drivers to select virtual gears and experience auditory feedback similar to mechanical gear shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an electric power train system is used, then performance is improved through maximum acceleration availability, but driver involvement and driving pleasure are reduced due to lack of gear shifting feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces auditory feedback by reproducing gear shift sounds associated with virtual gear changes. When the driver requests a gear change via the interface system, the control unit selects and plays appropriate sound files from the memory unit, providing sensory feedback that enhances driver involvement and driving pleasure while maintaining the performance benefits of electric power trains.
2Productivity
If an electric power train system is used, then acceleration performance is improved, but auditory feedback associated with gear shifting is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates auditory copies of traditional gear shift sounds by storing pre-recorded sound files in the memory unit. These sound files replicate the auditory characteristics of mechanical gear shifting, allowing the reproduction system to play back appropriate sounds when virtual gear changes occur, thereby restoring the lost auditory feedback without compromising electric power train performance.
3Ease of operation
If a mechanical gear shifting system is used, then driver involvement is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical gear shifting system with a virtual gear shifting system. Instead of physical gear changes, the control unit processes gear shift requests through software logic, selecting appropriate virtual gear ratios and triggering corresponding sound files. This substitution maintains driver involvement through auditory feedback while significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
4Loss of information
If audio files are stored in a memory unit for gear shift sounds, then auditory feedback is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the power train controller and the audio reproduction controller. The same control unit that manages electric motor operation also handles gear shift logic, selects appropriate sound files from the memory unit, and triggers the reproduction system. This universal approach provides auditory feedback while minimizing additional complexity by reusing existing control hardware.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Control method for a vehicle (1) comprising the steps of: providing a memory unit (20) comprising a plurality of audio files (21) corresponding to the sound of a gear shift in a number of predefined operational configurations (CC) as a function of at least one vehicular state variable (A, B, C); detecting a gear shift request from a driver (DR) to a gear shifting system interface device (9); detecting an actual operational configuration as a function of the at least one vehicular state variable (A, B, C); selecting one of the audio files (21) stored in the memory unit (20) corresponding to the sound of a gear shift as a function of the actual operational configuration; playing the selected audio file (21) at least within a passenger compartment (3) of the road vehicle (1).