A new approach to sound design in automated vehicles

Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) aim to support the interaction between automated vehicles and drivers to improve safety and driver experience. With the development of automated vehicles, drivers interact with vehicles in new scenarios. In addition to visual modality, sound is the other modality often used in vehicles. Previously, sounds were mainly used for alarms, but they can be used in other ways in automated vehicles. Therefore, a new approach to sound design is needed. We proposed an interactive approach for sound design to improve driver safety and user experience in automated vehicles. In this study, we suggested that the driver's interaction with automated vehicles should be analyzed based on the user and contextual understanding, and the sound should be designed to consider the appropriateness of situation matching and alert levels. This study showed that the approach supports designing sounds that enhance vehicle and driver interaction.