Due to recently voiced concerns over pedestrian and cyclist safety that hybrids can sneak up unexpectedly and hit them, companies are working on external sound systems that would make engine-type noises. Lotus Engineering on Tuesday announced it has a working prototype of such a system on a Toyota Prius.
The system produces a synthesized external engine sound when the vehicle is in motion. Such systems may soon be mandated for quiet-running hybrid vehicles by the government, with Lotus hoping its work is not for naught.
Lotus’ Safe & Sound Hybrid technology demonstrator was installed in a standard Toyota Prius, and represents an application of the company’s Sound Synthesis tech, which Lotus uses for active road noise cancellation in the interior of vehicles. The system takes a road speed signal and, provided the car is in quiet, electric operation mode only, it will send a series of engine sounds to the waterproof loudspeakers located beside the radiator. The emitted sound is appropriate to the speed of the car in pitch and frequency, giving hearing or visually impaired pedestrians an idea of how far and how fast the vehicle is moving. When the hybrid fires up the gasoline engine, the system seamlessly stops emitting the sound and goes back on when the engine is turned off automatically. Lotus claims little of the synthetic sound makes it into the vehicle’s interior.
08/05, 10:52 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I can think of a few better ways to make noise when approaching:
1) Rockford Fosgate
2) Instead of simulating the sound of an engine, what about simulating different sounds, like a jet airplane, a dinosaur roar, people having sex, a machine gun, or whale song?
3) Just do what a train does when it approaches an “intersection” – just lean on the horn!
08/05, 10:59 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Aren’t pedestrians lucky that Lotus looks at problem at hand, not M-B? Their solution would 7.92 mm M42 firing rapid burst while approaching intersection.
08/05, 12:14 PM
posted by:
zeeck
the only thing this should pertain to are the blind, everyone else, look both friggin ways! how hard is that? that’s the way it’s been for 100 years.
I think it would be awesome if M-B had the machine gun, and if porsche comes out with it’s panamera hybrid, maybe it will make the sound of a tank blowing something away
08/05, 12:42 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Bad idea. The world has too many people already.
08/05, 1:28 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Great, following the law of unintended consequences:
Ricers will hang this from the bumpers of their Civics/Kias/Yotas/Hyundais, and they will be tuned to a Ferrari V12, F1 Turbo, or a fighter jet turbine. The perfect compliment to the fart-can in the back.
08/05, 2:02 PM
posted by:
shaver
I guess Ill be more careful when coasting.
08/05, 2:33 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Why not playing cards in the spokes? The idea of a gunfire soundtrack is very hilarious. I would only buy a hybrid if I could choose my own soundtrack. I would buy a hybrid, sneak up on blind people, and hit the ‘play’ button. Imagine the blind hitting the deck at the sound of a Glock 9 emptying a full clip at 130db. Now THAT’S funny!!
08/05, 2:52 PM
posted by:
neptronix
Wait a minute.. 300 watts? are you kidding me?
That’s probably more than the power of all 4 speakers combined in the prius.
So what’s the prius gonna sound like.. an all motor mustang GT with 4-1 headers and no cat?
08/05, 4:11 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
300 Watts? Connect this thing into the very large battery pack in the trunk (hybrid, riiight?). When it goes off, I want to see a couple of bars come off the power meter. You’d get 30ish instead of 45 MPG, but it’s in the name of safety. Instead of a Glock, how about a Pacman waaka-waaka-waaka…?
08/05, 4:45 PM
posted by:
neptronix
pacman sounds would friggin’ rule. very fitting for a prius!
08/06, 4:32 AM
posted by:
sprockkets
The prius kinda looks like a mouse, should make squeaks.
Or, make gerbil noises such as when it runs on the wheel to remind people where it derives its energy from.
“So, what was the last thing you remembered before being hit by the Prius?”
“I was thinking why does it sound like a gerbil is coming my way? Like, WTF? That makes no sense. I was so puzzled and was so deep into thinking that I missed that stupid car coming at me!”
08/06, 12:26 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Just another example of reverse Darwinism. What Lotus should do is design a system of ear splitting pitches into the ears of the dumbasses who drive them until their heads explode. If Toyota tells them it’s good for the planet, they’ll mine up in droves anyway…