SPEAKeR

Electric vehicles are virtually silent at low speeds and are therefore barely noticeable to pedestrians. To protect vulnerable road users, Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems (AVAS) have been required by law since 2021. Against this backdrop, Fachhochschule Dortmund and its industry partner NOVICOS are collaborating on the ZIM research project SPEAKeR to develop innovative simulation-based methods for designing such systems.

The goal of the project is to precisely predict the acoustic properties of AVAS early in the development phases, significantly reduce simulation times, and simultaneously minimize unnecessary sound emissions through adaptive directional characteristics. Fachhochschule Dortmund is responsible for collecting geometric and acoustic reference data, modeling generic vehicle and environmental segments, and integrating the simulation into creative sound design processes, including auralization. Based on the simulation results, the university is developing a Smart-AVAS with situation-dependent control that adjusts the direction of the warning sound based on driving conditions. This allows noise emissions to be specifically reduced without compromising traffic safety. The methods developed are ultimately validated using a vehicle demonstrator and contribute to the sustainable and efficient development of AVAS.