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Design & 3D placement of information & warning sounds for improved safety & comfort

Reference number
Coordinator Volvo Personvagnar Aktiebolag - Avd 94751, HMI Attributes & Concept
Funding from Vinnova SEK 7 028 000
Project duration April 2012 - July 2016
Status Completed
Venture Traffic safety and automated vehicles -FFI
Call 2011-04447-en
End-of-project report 2011-04459sv.pdf(pdf, 324 kB) (In Swedish)

Important results from the project

To decrease the mental workload on a driver information can be given as a combination of visual, auditory and haptic signals. The main aim of this project has been to study what effect the design of warning sounds and special placement of sounds has on the driving task, the efficiency of warning and support systems and the ability to conduct secondary tasks. The studies have shown that special placement of sounds has an effect on safety, driving performance and secondary task performance. Methods and strategies for the design of driver support and customer satisfaction has been developed.

Expected long term effects

The studies have confirmed that the placement of sounds has an effect on the driving task, since the sounds brings the attention to its direction. There are benefits of using supporting sounds in combination with vibrations, since the visual signal can be missed. Methods and strategies for designing effective and satisfactory warning, support and information sounds is also a main contribution from this project.

Approach and implementation

This project includes controlled experimental studies conducted in lab, car simulator and real car. In addition, car customers on different markets have been interviewed. It would be interesting to further study the effects of 3D sounds in a real driving context.

The project description has been provided by the project members themselves and the text has not been looked at by our editors.

Last updated 25 November 2019

Reference number 2011-04459