Sound for the Hearing Impaired? ... Pukyong National University Student Team Wins Grand Prize at the ‘Intelligent Electronics Competition’

An explanatory image of a head-up display that shows sound.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Dooyul] Students from Pukyong National University have attracted attention by proposing a head-up display (HUD) idea that shows sounds for hearing-impaired drivers.

A student team consisting of third-year Electrical Engineering majors Cha Younghwa, Kim Gabin, Kim Minseo, and Seo Yonggyo from Pukyong National University presented their work titled "Head-Up Display That Shows Sounds" at the 19th Intelligent Electronics Competition hosted by the Power Electronics Society.

The student team designed a system that displays the direction and volume of sounds heard outside the vehicle on the HUD in front of the driver, winning the grand prize, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award, at the competition.

They designed a system that recognizes sounds using six microphone sensors installed at the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle and displays the direction and volume of the sound on a circular LED on the HUD.

For example, when another vehicle honks from behind the car, the light appears at the bottom of the circular LED; if the honk comes from the right side, the light appears on the right side of the circular LED.

Hearing-impaired drivers can use this system to visually confirm and pay attention to the honking sounds of surrounding vehicles.

In particular, siren sounds from ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars are displayed with separate pictograms such as a red cross, allowing for increased attention.

The system is designed not only with LEDs but also with eight vibration motors installed on the driver's seat to provide vibrations in the direction where the sound originated.

Student Cha Younghwa said, "I designed and submitted this work so that hearing-impaired people can safely drive by utilizing auditory information such as honks and sirens while driving."

Advisor Professor Noh Euicheol said, "The work is significant in that it can ensure the safety of hearing-impaired drivers, passengers, and the surrounding environment," adding, "It is expected that elderly drivers with reduced hearing ability and non-disabled drivers can also use it as an auxiliary means for safe driving."