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car sound research, 17th May 2011
Researchers at Warwick University in the UK are currently
stalking the campus in a specially modified electric car
in order to help develop an ideal sound for electric cars
of the future.
As everyone knows, electric cars are much quieter than
their internal combustion counterparts. For the most part
that's a good thing, however for the pedestrian stepping
out onto the road without looking, it could be fatal.
The researchers are trying to find a sound which is both
unique and instantly recognizable, while also effectively
giving away information to any nearby pedestrians regarding
the vehicle's distance, speed and whether it is accelerating
or decelerating. The car they're using is equipped with
small speakers in the bumper, and any pre-recorded sound
can be played through them. The sounds also alter their
pitch and tone depending on whether the car is accelerating
or decelerating.
Some of the sounds they have come up with are fairly similar
to that of conventional cars. While others would give
you a headache after 5 minutes!
Of course it's important that the sound they eventually
come up with is right. In another 10 or 20 years, when
a significant proportion, if not the majority, of cars
on the road are electric powered, having a sound everybody
is familiar with, and making sure it's one that doesn't
cause migraines or shatter glass is vital.
For the full story and video visit BBC
news.
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