Notification Sound Control for Electric Vehicle Pedestrian Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaching vehicle audible systems generate unnatural notification sounds when directly reflecting accelerator opening degree signals, leading to a lack of awareness for pedestrians about the approach of electric vehicles, which can result in collisions.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a behavior conversion processing section that processes the accelerator opening degree signal through time change processing to generate a more natural notification sound, adjusting pitch and volume to mimic the sound patterns of conventional engine vehicles, thereby enhancing the perceived presence of electric vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If accelerator opening degree signal is directly reflected in notification sound, then the notification sound responds quickly to driver input, but the sound becomes unnatural and less recognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing on the accelerator opening degree signal through behavior conversion before generating the notification sound. This includes converting the raw signal into a processed signal that better represents natural vehicle behavior patterns, thereby preparing the data in advance to avoid unnatural sound generation while maintaining quick response
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the notification sound (pitch, volume, timbre) based on the processed accelerator opening degree signal. By dynamically adjusting these acoustic parameters according to the converted behavior data, the system generates sounds that naturally reflect vehicle acceleration patterns while maintaining responsiveness to driver input
2Use of energy by moving object
If electric vehicle uses high-quietness electric motor, then energy efficiency and environmental friendliness improve, but pedestrian awareness of vehicle approach decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a notification sound generation system as an intermediary between the electric motor and the pedestrian. This mediator converts the invisible electric motor operation into audible notification sounds that pedestrians can perceive, thereby compensating for the lack of natural engine noise while preserving the energy efficiency benefits of electric propulsion
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copied representation of conventional engine vehicle sounds through the notification sound generation system. By synthesizing sounds that mimic the acoustic characteristics of internal combustion engine vehicles based on accelerator opening degree and vehicle behavior, the system provides pedestrians with familiar auditory cues that enable them to perceive vehicle approach without requiring actual engine noise
Data Source
AI summary
A notification sound control unit (10) of an approaching vehicle audible system (100), generating a signal for a notification sound to be emitted from a sounding device (40) provided in an electric vehicle (200) in which at least part of driving force is produced by a motor to the outside of the electric vehicle (200), is provided with a behavior conversion processing section (21) that changes through time change processing an accelerator opening degree signal (11) among vehicle information signals (1) of the electric vehicle (200) so as to output a processed accelerator opening degree signal and with a notification sound signal generation processing section (3) that changes a pitch and a volume of a sound element signal outputted from a sound element (31, 310), based on the processed accelerator opening degree signal, so as to generate a notification sound signal.