journal article·2024-11-26Open access

Design and Implementation of the Python-Driven Digital Horn System: A Novel Approach for Electric Vehicle Sound Systems

Hakan Tekin, Hikmet Karşıyaka, Davut Ertekin

Applied Sciences· Volume 14· Issue 23

Abstract

Electric and hybrid vehicles are known for their significant reduction in road noise. However, concerns have emerged regarding their silent operation, potentially increasing risks for other road users. To mitigate this, the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) has been mandated by regulations such as R138 by UNECE in the USA and Europe. This regulation dictates the generation of sound in electric vehicles of categories M and N1 during normal, reverse, and forward motion without the internal combustion engine engaged. Compliance involves meeting specific sound requirements based on vehicle mode and condition. This paper introduces a Python-based approach to designing digital horn sounds, leveraging music theory and signal processing techniques to replace traditional mechanical horns in electric vehicles equipped with AVAS devices. The aim is to offer a practical and efficient means of generating digital horn sounds using this software. The software includes an application capable of producing and customizing horn sounds, with the HornSoundGeneratorGUI class providing a user-friendly interface built with the Tkinter library. To validate the digital horn produced sounds by the software and ensure compliance with AVAS regulations, comprehensive electrical and acoustic tests were conducted in a fully equipped quality laboratory. The results demonstrated that the sound levels achieved met the required 105–107 dB/2 m standard specified by the regulation.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Vehicle Noise and Vibration Control · Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research · Music Technology and Sound Studies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Seger Ses ve Elektrikli Gereçler San. A.Ş., 16110 Bursa, Türkiye

Power Electronics Center of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Research Laboratories, Bursa Technical University, Yıldırım, 16310 Bursa, Türkiye

Funding

Bursa Technical University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences

References (23)

Show source-provided references
1. (2021, October 19). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US Department of Transportation), Hybrid-Electric, Plug-in Hybrid-Electric and Electric Vehicle Sales, Available online: https://www.bts.gov/content/gasoline-hybrid-and-electric-vehicle-sales.
2. Misdariis, N., and Padro, L.-F. (2017, January 27–30). The sound of silence of electric vehicles: Issues and answers. Proceedings of the Inter-Noise 2017, Hong Kong, China.
3. (2021, October 19). Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center, Japan Promotes Electrified Vehicle (xEV) Strategy Ahead of 2050. Available online: http://www.cev-pc.or.jp/english/ev-strategy.html.
4. Gear sound model for an approach of a Mechanical Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (MAVAS) to increase EV’s detectability10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108345 ↗
5. Study of the effectiveness of electric vehicle warning sounds depending on the urban environment10.1016/j.apacoust.2016.10.003 ↗
6. Ercan Altinsoy, Influence of an artificially produced stationary sound of electrically powered vehicles on the safety of visually impaired pedestrians10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107290 ↗
7. Progress report on examination of quiet-car measures for hybrid and other vehicles: The work of the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory
8. (2021, October 19). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, About the Compilation etc. of “Guidelines for the Measure Against the Quietness Problem”, Press Releases. (In Japanese).
9. (2017). Regulation, No. 138, Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Quiet Road Transport Vehicles with Regard to Their Reduced Audibility, Official Journal of the European Union.
10. Tsuruta-Hamamura, M., Kobayashi, T., Kosuge, T., and Hasegawa, H. (2022). The Effect of a “Design-of-Awareness” Process on Recognition of AVAS Sound of Quiet Vehicles. Appl. Sci., 12.10.3390/app12010157 ↗
11. Calloni, M., Hadjit, R., Salvekar, P., and Musser, C. (2024). Harmonizing Safety Regulations and Perception: A Simulation Methodology for AVAS System Design, SAE International. SAE Technical Paper 2024-01-2915.10.4271/2024-01-2915 ↗
12. The Effectiveness of Alert Sounds for Electric Vehicles Based on Pedestrians’ Perception10.1109/TITS.2020.3025499 ↗
13. Prediction of annoyance evaluations of electric vehicle noise by using artificial neural networks10.1016/j.apacoust.2018.09.024 ↗
14. Pompei, F.J. (2006). Directional Acoustic Alerting System. (7106180), U.S. Patent.
15. Design and implementation of a directive electric car warning sound
16. Kim, G.H., and Moon, Y.S. (2014). Apparatus for Warning Pedestrians of Oncoming Vehicle. (8,854,229), U.S. Patent.
17. Quinn, D., Mitchell, J., and Clark, P. (2014, January 16–19). Development of a next-generation audible pedestrian alert system for EVs having minimal impact on environmental noise levels—Project eVADER. Proceedings of the 43rd International Congress on Noise Control Engineering, Melbourne, Australia.
18. Directional loudspeaker arrays for acoustic warning systems with minimised noise pollution10.1016/j.apacoust.2014.09.024 ↗
19. Investigation of a directional warning sound system for electric vehicles based on structural vibration10.1121/10.0001681 ↗
20. Regulation, UNECE (2001). Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Audible Warning Devices and of Motor Vehicles with Regard to Their Audible Warning Signals, Regulation, UNECE. UN Regulation No. 28.
21. Müller, M. (2015). Fundamentals of Music Processing, Springer.10.1007/978-3-319-21945-5 ↗
22. Discrete-time synthesis of the sawtooth waveform with reduced aliasing10.1109/LSP.2004.842271 ↗
23. Upmixing and Downmixing Two-channel Stereo Audio for Consumer Electronics10.1109/TCE.2007.4341580 ↗