Raquel Esteves, a recent graduate of the Master in Multimedia of the University of Porto, took her dissertation work to the Noise and Vibration Conference and Exhibition by SAE International, held last month in the United States, and returned with the Best Student Thesis Award for her research entitled ‘Sound Design for Electric Vehicles: Enhancing Safety and User Experience Through Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)’.
The increase in electric vehicles has led to significant changes in car design, particularly in response to the absence of traditional combustion engine sounds. This change has required innovations to increase pedestrian safety and improve the user experience. This work explores the current state of research and development in sound creation for electric vehicles, focusing on the implementation of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS).
Through a comprehensive review of the literature, the study examined key concepts related to sonification, human-machine interaction, sound design, automation engineering, and environmental considerations such as urban soundscape management, ecological sustainability, and noise pollution. Existing AVAS systems were analysed to identify common approaches, evaluate their effectiveness and explore potential for improvement. In addition, the study also investigated the characteristics of low- and high-fidelity soundscapes to determine the most appropriate sounds for optimising AVAS, aligning them with pedestrian safety and environmental objectives.
The practical component of the research involved designing AVAS prototypes using specialised software tools, including Ableton Live and Wwise Automotive. These sounds were integrated into simulated driving scenarios in Unity to test their performance and determine user preferences and their impact on pedestrian safety and user experience.
The study offers valuable insights for AVAS design, balancing safety, user satisfaction and minimal environmental disturbance. Participants preferred discreet, soft, nature-like melodic sounds with lower frequencies for high-fidelity soundscapes and melodic, low-frequency sounds for low-fidelity soundscapes at higher speeds. They preferred melodic, reliable and futuristic tones for car sounds, avoiding overly epic sounds that could interfere with driving. The emphasis on low and mid frequencies created a sense of connection to the ground.
This research improves electric vehicle technology and promotes a more harmonious interaction between electric vehicles and urban environments.
‘I am grateful to the organisers, reviewers and everyone who has supported me on my journey so far, as well as all the fantastic researchers I had the opportunity to meet and learn from during the event,’ shares Raquel, extending her thanks to the Master in Multimedia and her supervisors Gilberto Bernardes and Eduardo Magalhães for their continued support.
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