2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

A warning sound for pedestrians based on detectability of approaching electric vehicle and consumer acceptability by fluctuation sound

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24800080
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Sensitivity informatics/Soft computing
Research Institution	Matsue National College of Technology
Principal Investigator	NOZOMIKO Yasui 松江工業高等専門学校, 情報工学科, 助教 (80607896)
Project Period (FY)	2012-08-31 – 2014-03-31
Keywords	電気自動車 / 接近音 / 変動感 / 認知性 / 排気音
Research Abstract	Although the motors equipped on electric vehicles (EVs) are designed to provide calm environments to drivers, pedestrians have trouble recognizing their approach because they are too quiet. Warning sounds have been developed to solve this. However, it is still problematic for pedestrians. This study proposes a warning sound for pedestrians by using amplitude fluctuations for sounds to enhance their ability to be detected and acceptable for neighborhoods. The warning sound with characteristics of the fluctuation of the gasoline engine was synthesized using a procedure proposed in our previous study. A detectability and acceptability by pedestrians were assessed. The result revealed that fluctuating motor sounds effectively enabled people to notice the approaching electric vehicles, and that those sounds are relatively acceptable.