Project Overview

At the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, we showcased our innovative Intelligent Driving Sounds through two distinct setups. A Tesla Model 3 prototype featured our AI-driven motor sound generator, providing a live demonstration of how real-time sound adaptation enhances the electric driving experience.

We also presented a custom-built demonstrator that combined driving simulation and our sound algorithm to highlight the system’s potential virtually. This setup not only demonstrated the capabilities of the sound system but also served as a testing environment for refining and validating our custom electric driving sounds.
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Objectives

• Create an experience at the IAA Mobility 2021 that engages B2B visitors and showcases the potential of intelligent driving sounds.
• Ensure the setup is highly realistic, providing an immersive and convincing demonstration of the system’s capabilities.
• Design an on-screen UI that aligns with the driving experience, clearly communicating to the driver what is happening in real time.
• Develop three distinct driving sound profiles:
  • A combustion-inspired, powerful sound.
  • A typical electric, energetic sound.
  • An ambient, emotionally calming sound aimed at relaxing the driver.
• Implement a seamless blending mechanism that adapts these sound profiles dynamically to the driver’s behavior.

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Solutions

• Designed and built a demonstrator setup featuring a high-quality driving seat, steering wheel, and a professional-grade driving simulation displayed on a large screen. The setup showcased the interior of Impulse Audio Lab’s Tesla Model 3, creating a realistic and immersive experience. High-quality headphones allowed participants to focus on the sonic experience without disturbing others.
• Implemented an AI-driven sound algorithm that learned from multiple drivers’ behaviors. The AI was supervised and fine-tuned with curated data to create an average driving behavior model.
• Developed an adaptive system where the AI seamlessly blended between the three pre-existing driving sound profiles based on the driver’s behavior, dynamically showcasing each sound’s unique character.
• Created a relaxing and calming ambient driving sound, designed specifically to positively influence drivers’ emotional states. This was informed by research into how sound and sonic patterns affect human emotions and the subconscious.
• Integrated a UI displayed on the screen that visually represented the AI’s real-time decision-making process, showcasing the intelligence behind the driving sounds and adding depth to the overall experience.
• Collaborated with the team to ensure the demonstration was highly engaging and realistic, providing an intuitive and professional experience for B2B visitors at the IAA.

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Outcomes

• Received highly positive feedback from B2B visitors, doing collaborations with additional OEMs.
• Paved the way for the development of the EVX Suite, building on the concepts and learnings from this demonstration.
• The combustion-inspired sound and the calming ambient sound emerged as audience favorites, highlighting their potential for future applications in electric vehicle sound design.

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