Search Results

In this paper, we discuss the operational convenience and safe driving when operating a human-machine interface (HMI) while driving on a virtual expressway. We previously conducted an experiment to evaluate a center-cluster panel switch and two prototypes of new HMI with a head-up display (HUD) and steering wheel switch (SWS) in which the participant followed a lead vehicle on an expressway by using a driving simulator (DS). We also conducted another experiment to evaluate these new HMIs when a driver operating an HMI encountered a sudden danger while driving. However, in these previous experiments, the number of switch pushes was not the same for each HMI. In this study, we compared the participants' switch operation performance, eye movement, and reaction to sudden danger in the new experimental condition, where the number of switch pushes is the same for each HMI, with those of the previous work.

We conducted an experiment to evaluate the operational convenience and the influence on safe driving of a new human-machine interface (HMI) by using a driving simulator (DS). In this system a driver operates the new HMI and center-cluster panel switches while driving on an expressway and when encountering a sudden danger. Based on the results, we discuss the operational convenience and driving safety when operating an HMI while driving on a virtual expressway.

The sound quality of current automobile audio systems differs under static and dynamic conditions. Under dynamic conditions, road noise imparts a masking effect on the low frequency range of the sounds being reproduced. In “The New-AFB system” [1] and “the NEW-AFB Automotive sound system” [2] reported to the SAE in 1995 and 1996 respectively, the Acoustic Feedback (AFB) system was discussed as a new playback system capable of correcting the transient characteristics of the speaker and overcoming the masking effect. The AFB system has been improved and a new playback system developed that uses vehicle road noise as a sound control signal. In this new system, an additional external microphone is added, which in conjunction with the normal AFB microphone allows the low frequency road noise component of the monitored sound to be extracted.

With conventional automotive systems overall music sound quality depends on whether car is running or not. It is so because the low frequency component of the sound is masked by the road noise when running. To develop a system in which the sound is not easily masked by the road noise, we have paid attention to the difference between the speaker velocity changes (acceleration characteristics) due to the road noise and those of the music signal, and to the attack transient which is important to identify the timbre. The rise time response of the loudspeaker is a key factor for improvement, and conventional speakers have limitations in this regard. In 1995 the authors presented the New-AFB System1) in the SAE convention, which explained the technology and advantages of acoustic feedback in achieving flat sound pressure vs. frequency and enabling substantial improvement in response time of the speaker. Since then we have applied this to develop an optimum system for automobile use.

The acoustic feedback (AFB) system is to detect the acoustic signals radiated from a loudspeaker with a microphone, and feed them back to the previous stage of the amplifier. However, there were many problems to put it into practical use. A new AFB system has been developed, where the above problems are solved by setting the microphone at the optimum position and adopting a new feedback method. This was achieved by reviewing the loudspeaker performance from a new point of view. Thus, a wide-range feedback and the improvement in the speaker response have been obtained. Also, the problems of oscillation have been solved.