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It turns out that these car sounds are man-made! How can we use technology to make the sounds inside and outside the car more attractive?
In the automotive industry, with the advancement of technology, "Active Sound Design" (ASD) has become an important acoustic technology concept. This technology is used to change or enhance the sounds inside and outside the vehicle to make it more engaging.
Active Sound Design achieves synthetic vehicle sound through the use of active noise control and acoustic enhancement technologies.
Generally speaking, ASD can be implemented in a variety of different ways, from amplifying or reducing existing sounds to creating entirely new sounds. Different automakers may use different software or hardware technologies to implement ASD, which is why ASD has different names under different brands, such as Acura's "Active Sound Control", Kia's "Active Sound System", Volkswagen's "Active Sound System", and Volkswagen's "Active Sound System". "Soundaktor", etc.
Components of ASD
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is a software process that uses existing in-car infotainment hardware to eliminate unwanted noise inside the vehicle. This cancellation technique, called harmonic order reduction, uses sensors to identify unwanted audio signals and filter them out. Manufacturers can use ANC in cars to enhance the effects of ASD.
Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE) allows manufacturers to enhance engine sound through synthetic noises that are generated based on real-time engine data.
As the market demand for more economical and cleaner internal combustion engine vehicles increases, the sound of these vehicles is becoming less appealing to consumers, despite improvements in engine system efficiency. The operating sounds of electric and fuel cell vehicles are mainly high-pitched and lack the recognizable sounds of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, and the development of ASD is committed to improving these sounds.
Motivations of ASDIn recent years, interior noise has become increasingly annoying in the automotive industry, especially in internal combustion vehicles, due to environmental regulations and demands for fuel economy. Additionally, electric and hybrid vehicles have virtually no engine sound, which can be annoying for passengers and pose a potential safety risk to pedestrians.
With the introduction of active sound design, manufacturers are able to reduce production costs without increasing the complexity of mechanical structures.
Traditional sound control methods involve cumbersome mechanical modifications, such as balance shafts and sound insulation materials, which not only increase manufacturing time but also increase costs. The emergence of ASD allows manufacturers to adjust and optimize the sound in the later stages of development, greatly reducing the complexity of production.
Technical application and theoretical basis
Active Sound Design (ASD) changes the interior and exterior sound of a vehicle using data such as engine and vehicle speed, pedal input, exhaust noise and vehicle vibration. In a classical internal combustion engine, the cylinders are responsible for burning gasoline, producing energy, and firing at a certain cycle, which can be represented by a series of sine waves.
Through Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology, missing sound harmonics are amplified to enhance the engine sound inside the passenger compartment.
Similarly, electric vehicles (EVs) often use virtual sounds to compensate for the lack of internal combustion engine sounds. To optimize the sound design of an electric vehicle, manufacturers must consider the psychoacoustic theory of sound preference. Research shows that consumers’ preferences for car audio are mainly focused on reducing the loudness and high-frequency components of the sound to enhance the driving experience.
Challenges and Brand Identity
For the average consumer, the onset of ASD is often not easily noticeable. However, with the emergence of new BMW models, consumers' aversion to synthetic engine sounds has gradually increased, and some have even expressed a feeling of being deceived. It can be seen that the establishment of brand identity lies in the sound feedback during vehicle operation, which is the key to allowing consumers to experience a driving experience different from that of fuel vehicles.
The lack of engine noise in electric vehicles degrades sound quality, replaced by wind and road noise, making it urgent for manufacturers to establish a unique sonic identity.
In practice, the challenge of active sound design lies in the limited frequency transition of sound, especially in electric vehicles. Therefore, how to balance the quality of synthetic sounds and consumers' expectations of sound realism has become a problem that companies must solve.
ConclusionAs automotive technology advances, ASD can provide drivers and passengers with a more engaging sound experience, but in reality, the acceptance of this technology in the minds of consumers and the influence of brands will have a great impact on future This has a profound impact on vehicle design. As technology continues to evolve, can we expect even more unique and engaging sounds in future cars?
