Zoox, Inc.

Forrest Leighton Merrill

Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha

Jacob Avi Harper

Jeremy Yi-Xiong Yang

Michael Moshe Kohen

Josh Alexander Jimenez

George Dalman Nelson, Iii

Koun Han

Kevin Mark Karol

Timothy John Leo Koenig

Techniques for using beam-formed acoustic notifications for pedestrian notification are described. Computing device(s) can receive sensor data associated with an object in an environment of a vehicle. The computing device(s) can determine first data for emitting a first beam of acoustic energy via speaker(s) of an acoustic array associated with the vehicle, and second data for emitting a second beam of acoustic energy via speakers of the acoustic array. The computing device(s) can cause the speaker(s) to emit the first beam in a direction of the object at a first time and the second beam in the direction of the object at a second time. Directions of propagation of the first beam and the second beam are offset so that the object can localize the source the acoustic notification, thereby localizing the vehicle in the environment.

Acoustic notifications

A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically adjust a volume and/or frequency of a sound emitted from a vehicle to warn an object (e.g., dynamic object) of a potential conflict with the vehicle. The techniques may include determining a baseline noise level and/or frequencies proximate to the object. The baseline noise level and/or frequencies may be determined based on an identification of one or more noise generating objects in the environment. The vehicle computing system may determine the volume and/or a frequency of the sound based in part on the baseline noise level and/or frequencies, an urgency of the warning, a probability of conflict between the vehicle and the object, a speed of the object, etc.

Dynamic sound emission for vehicles

Techniques for utilizing three-dimensional (3D) sound for passenger notification are described herein. Computing device(s) onboard a vehicle can determine an occurrence of an event associated with a passenger of the vehicle or the vehicle, and can determine a 3D sound associated with the event. Then, the computing device(s) can send a signal associated with the 3D sound to a speaker system inside of the vehicle and, responsive to receiving the signal, one or more speakers of the speaker system can output the 3D sound such that a sound associated with the 3D sound is perceived to be localized relative to the passenger in the vehicle.

Three-dimensional sound for passenger notification

Techniques for using acoustic notifications output via a multi-channel speaker configuration for pedestrian notification are described. Computing device(s) can determine a plurality of signals for dynamically emitting a plurality of sounds via a plurality of speakers associated with an acoustic array disposed on a vehicle. Each signal of the plurality of signals can be emitted from speaker(s) of the plurality of speakers that is/are associated with a particular channel of a plurality of channels. Furthermore, the computing device(s) can cause a portion of the plurality of speakers to dynamically emit the plurality of sounds so that the plurality of sounds are spatialized across the at least one surface of the vehicle. As a result, a pedestrian proximate the vehicle can localize the vehicle as a source of the acoustic notification and perceive a size, or other geometric characteristic, of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

Forrest Leighton Merrill