Inifiniti m35h hybrid: Audible Pedestrian Warning

The Infiniti M35h will become the world's first hybrid to feature an audible pedestrian warning system as standard when it goes on sale in six months' time. The ground-breaking high performance hybrid model, which can travel further and faster in silent electric-only mode than other hybrids, utilises a range of distinctive sounds to help ensure the safety of other road users.

The new Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system -- is computer controlled and links an in-car sound synthesiser with a speaker built in to the front bumper. It automatically works from start-up to 30 km/h, cutting back in at 25 km/h as the vehicle slows.

Instead of just a single tone, a range of high-low sounds at different volume levels was chosen after an extensive research programme to find the most effective, but least intrusive, noise. The team developing the system in Infiniti's parent group worked with cognitive and acoustic psychologists studying areas from pedestrian behavioural patterns to noise pollution.

The result is a sine-wave sound that extends from 2.5kHz at the high end to a low of 600Hz. It is a range readily audible to all age groups while avoiding a sound range (around 1,000Hz) that would add unnecessary noise to the environment.

The noise sweeps from high to low frequency depending on vehicle speed and whether the M35h is accelerating or decelerating. It is loudest at start-up to give a clear indication the vehicle is beginning to move off, while an intermittent tone is used when reversing -- both sounds calculated to ensure the M35h cannot surprise pedestrians and the visually impaired as it approaches.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• inifiniti
• m35h
• hybrid
• audible
• warning
• pedestrian