Pedestrian Warning Device Directional Sound Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Quiet electric, fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles pose a risk to pedestrians due to their silent operation, as existing pedestrian warning devices only notify drivers of a pedestrian's presence without indicating their movement direction, insufficiently ensuring pedestrian safety.
Innovation Solution
A pedestrian warning device that uses internal and external speakers to output warning sounds, changing direction and volume based on the pedestrian's movement, to inform drivers and pedestrians of the vehicle's position relative to the pedestrian, employing a controller and detectors to generate movement information and control speaker operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single warning sound output method is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to notify drivers of pedestrian movement direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The warning sound output function is segmented into multiple independent speakers positioned at different locations within the vehicle. Each speaker can be independently controlled to output warning sounds in specific directions, enabling the system to convey pedestrian movement direction information through spatial sound distribution while maintaining modular simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-direction sound output to multi-dimensional spatial sound output by arranging speakers at different positions (front, rear, left, right) within the vehicle. This spatial dimensionality allows drivers to perceive pedestrian movement direction through the directional characteristics of warning sounds, enriching information transmission without significantly increasing system complexity
2Loss of information
If warning sounds are output only to the inside of the vehicle, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to notify pedestrians of vehicle position is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs different speaker configurations for different purposes: internal speakers provide directional warning sounds to drivers with lower energy consumption, while external speakers positioned at vehicle corners provide position notification to pedestrians. Each speaker group operates with optimized energy levels according to its specific function and location
Solution Approach 2:
The warning sound system is designed to serve multiple functions: internal speakers notify drivers of pedestrian presence and movement direction, while external speakers notify pedestrians of vehicle position. This multi-functional design allows a single system to address both information needs without requiring entirely separate systems, optimizing overall energy efficiency
3Loss of information
If the volume of warning sound is kept constant, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to notify according to distance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the volume of warning sounds based on the real-time distance between the vehicle and pedestrian. As the pedestrian approaches the vehicle, the volume increases to maintain effective notification. This dynamic volume control provides critical distance information to both drivers and pedestrians while managing energy consumption through adaptive rather than constant power output
Data Source
AI summary
A pedestrian warning device of a vehicle is disclosed. The pedestrian warning device includes a pedestrian detector configured to detect a position of a pedestrian walking around a vehicle, an in-vehicle warning sound outputter configured to output warning sounds through a plurality of internal speakers arranged at different positions in the vehicle, and a controller configured to generate pedestrian movement information including a movement direction of the pedestrian based on the detected position of the pedestrian, determine a moved position of the pedestrian based on the generated pedestrian movement information, control an operation of the in-vehicle warning sound outputter according to the determined moved position to operate an internal speaker corresponding to the moved position of the pedestrian among the plurality of internal speakers as the pedestrian moves, and notify a driver of the moved position of the pedestrian by change of a direction of the output warning sound.