Spatial Audio Cues for Vehicle Motion Sickness Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals experience motion sickness while traveling in vehicles, particularly when looking at stationary objects within the vehicle as it accelerates, turns, or changes orientation, as existing systems fail to effectively provide clear indications of impending vehicle movements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising detectors, a processing unit, and a sound system that modifies the spatial audio pattern to indicate vehicle acceleration and orientation changes, using acoustic output devices to generate audible sounds perceived as originating from specific directions, thereby correlating with the vehicle's movements and alleviating motion sickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual indicators are used to show vehicle acceleration, then passengers can anticipate movement, but this may distract passengers from their surroundings and increase cognitive load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual indicators with acoustic indicators to convey vehicle acceleration information. The sound system uses spatial audio patterns that change in response to detected acceleration, providing motion anticipation cues through sound rather than sight, thereby eliminating visual distraction while maintaining motion sickness prevention benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary medium to communicate vehicle motion state to passengers. The sound system acts as a mediator between the vehicle's motion sensors and the passenger's perception, translating acceleration data into spatial audio patterns that intuitively convey movement anticipation without requiring visual attention
2Reliability
If acoustic indicators are used to show vehicle acceleration, then passengers can anticipate movement without visual distraction, but the spatial audio pattern may be difficult to interpret without additional context
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses changes in spatial audio patterns analogous to color changes, where the sound field's spatial distribution transforms in response to detected acceleration. The system modifies the spatial characteristics of audio output based on acceleration data, creating intuitive directional cues that maintain motion anticipation while remaining interpretable without additional context
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the spatial audio pattern to encode acceleration direction and magnitude. By creating asymmetric sound distributions that correspond to the direction and intensity of vehicle acceleration, the system provides rich directional information that is intuitively interpretable by passengers without requiring additional contextual explanation
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 communicates vehicle movements to passengers through modified spatial audio patterns, reducing the incidence of motion sickness by providing a direct correlation between vehicle acceleration and sound cues.
Implementation Method 1
a sound system comprising a plurality of acoustic output devices, wherein the sound system is configured to receive the control signal and to generate and output an audible sound as a function of the control signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a system for providing an indication of an acceleration of a vehicle or a change of orientation of the vehicle with respect to the environment of the vehicle. The system comprises: at least one detector configured to detect an actual acceleration of the vehicle or a change of orientation of the vehicle and to provide a detection output based thereon; a processing unit configured to receive the detection output, the processing unit further being configured to generate a control signal based thereon; and a sound system comprising a plurality of acoustic output devices, wherein the sound system is configured to receive the control signal and to generate and output an audible sound as a function of the control signal, wherein the control signal is arranged to cause a spatial audio pattern of the sound system to be modified when compared with a reference spatial audio pattern applicable when no actual acceleration of the vehicle and no change of orientation of the vehicle has been detected. Also disclosed is a vehicle comprising the system, a corresponding method and a computer program.