The acoustics lab of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Applied Sciences Dortmund relies on the 6 DOF motion platform QS-S25. From the lab’s perspective, the simulator offers the best compromise between size, driving experience, and modifiability. Especially in the Vehicle Development program, the simulator can showcase its advantages and serves as an immersive development platform for the sound design of (electric) vehicles.

Another important aspect is the Software Development Kit (SDK) for MATLAB. With self-developed scripts, vehicle parameters from common racing and driving simulations can be extracted and processed for sound playback. Additionally, the telemetry data is transmitted as motion feedback to the platform, which can influence the development of custom vehicles, such as the Nuevo35, at an early stage.

The goal of the acoustics lab is to develop high-quality sound designs for engine and driving noises as well as driver assistance systems. These should provide the driver with a realistic and dynamic sense of current speed, be audible to pedestrians, yet not too loud or otherwise disruptive for either party. Ideally, they should also feature a unique and recognizable sound, depending on the vehicle.

To create a natural and realistic experience, a 8.1 sound system is currently being used. The technical challenge lies in managing the different speaker distances, the dedicated audio playback for each wheel, the engine and other noise sources, as well as the moving platform. All of this needs to be synchronized through software for perfect immersion.