Sound design for pedestrian safety in electric vehicles

Sound design for pedestrian safety in electric vehicles

Noriega Jessup, J.A.

Ozcan Vieira, E. (mentor)
Silvester, S. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Design Engineering

Master of Science Integrated Product Design

2012-10-29

As vehicle manufacturers introduce into the market electric (EV) and hybrid (HV) vehicles, these are designed to work under electric propulsion in speeds under 30km/h for environmental purposes. This has resulted in a positive approach to urban areas where day to day city traffic and the emissions they emit can be reduced. As a result from this electric propulsion, noise levels from the e-motor are below current environmental sounds, becoming vehicles completely quiet to near pedestrians. A hazard is revealed when road users who normally depend their intuition and recognition to detect the presence, location and behavior of oncoming traffic is completely omitted. This is why this thesis project is to investigate a new and intuitive sound solution for road users to recognize when a vehicle is approached under low speed situations. As a new and different way to solve this, it is focusing on environmental context sounds, from the interaction of wheel/tire with the floor. While staying away from current electronic solutions. In-depth interviews were organized to achieve rich information about their experiences mainly as electric vehicle drivers, and as well be able to understand where, when and who are exposed to danger. Finally being able to conceptualize, create and physically prototype a final product.

electric vehicles
pedestrian sound
E.V.
sound design

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:36637f3b-a09d-4cf7-9dfb-fd70c19ee8b1

2013-10-29

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2012 A. Noriega, J.