Audio Tones Can Help Automated Vehicles Communicate with Pedestrians

• A study from Virginia Tech and Zoox found that custom audio tones can effectively communicate vehicle intent to pedestrians, similar to a traditional horn, especially in jaywalking scenarios.
• The research involved 200 jaywalking scenarios and 160 crosswalk scenarios, with alert tones discouraging crossing and waiting tones encouraging it.
• Alert tones were as effective as a horn in discouraging jaywalkers, but waiting tones were only slightly successful in encouraging safe crossing.
• Pedestrians crossing the road saw the vehicle as an empty seat, leading to quicker decisions to cross or not cross, based on the sound.
• The study found that sound can be as effective as a horn in influencing pedestrian behavior, even for those with limited visual acuity.
• The research team developed seven unique sounds to communicate vehicle intent, with participants rating them on qualities like urgency and friendliness.
• The study showed that the time to cross was not significantly different from the baseline, but the decision to cross was faster with sound.
• The study emphasized the importance of ensuring safety benefits for all road users, including pedestrians, and highlighted the potential for incorporating sound into automated vehicles.
• The test fleet vehicles were equipped with sensors and external speakers to produce the audio tones, allowing researchers to assess human reactions to automated vehicles.
• The study's most promising results came from jaywalking scenarios, where pedestrians responded similarly to a horn.
• The research team acknowledged the need for more study on the long-term effects of sound exposure and the role of external communication in pedestrian decision-making.
• The study highlights the potential for sound to enhance safety and communication in automated vehicles, even in the absence of a driver.

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