Automatic Detection of Emergency Cars

Drastrup, Mads Johan Kongsbak ; Lopez Montoro, Jonas

4. term

Acoustics and Audio Technology, Master

2017

2017-06-07

99 pages

Inattention is a major factor in traffic accidents taking place in a third of all accidents in Denmark 2010 [1]. This inattention to surrounding traffic and distractions, such as music or hands-free communication, within the car cabin can make drivers unaware of nearby emergency vehicles. This gives the incentive to develop proof of concept that an automatic detection of emergency vehicles can be created. This project studies the characteristics of the siren wail of an ambulance. In field measurements of this siren are done both in stationary and moving scenarios, in order to establish signal description of this siren. By knowing the unique characteristics of the siren wail as well as the acoustical properties of a signal in motion (The Doppler Effect), lays the foundation in order to develop three algorithms: Siren Detection, Direction Determination and Distance Determination. These three algorithms are used to detect any nearby ambulances, determine whether the ambulance is approaching or receding and finally estimating the distance to the incoming ambulance. These three algorithms are tested using the recorded measurements in various scenarios, both stationary and in motion. The results indicated that the siren detection works perfectly with all signal samples, the direction algorithms is flawed in terms of determining direction based on the properties of the Doppler effect and the distance determination still needs improvement in order to determine distance accurately.

Automatic ; Detection ; Emergency ; Cars ; Doppler ; Effect ; Ambulance ; Falk

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects