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We conducted an experiment to evaluate the operational convenience and the influence on safe driving of a new human-machine interface (HMI) by using a driving simulator (DS). In this system a driver operates the new HMI and center-cluster panel switches while driving on an expressway and when encountering a sudden danger. Based on the results, we discuss the operational convenience and driving safety when operating an HMI while driving on a virtual expressway.

With conventional automotive systems overall music sound quality depends on whether car is running or not. It is so because the low frequency component of the sound is masked by the road noise when running. To develop a system in which the sound is not easily masked by the road noise, we have paid attention to the difference between the speaker velocity changes (acceleration characteristics) due to the road noise and those of the music signal, and to the attack transient which is important to identify the timbre. The rise time response of the loudspeaker is a key factor for improvement, and conventional speakers have limitations in this regard. In 1995 the authors presented the New-AFB System1) in the SAE convention, which explained the technology and advantages of acoustic feedback in achieving flat sound pressure vs. frequency and enabling substantial improvement in response time of the speaker. Since then we have applied this to develop an optimum system for automobile use.