Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle and method thereof includes an air injector that injects air of a preset target pressure to a driver of the vehicle, an ultrasonic transducer that transmits an ultrasonic wave to the driver and receives an echo of the ultrasonic wave, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a skin stress of the driver based on the target pressure, determine a skin strain of the driver based on the echo, determine a skin stiffness of the driver based on the skin stress and the skin strain, and generate a vehicle sound by use of a volume function generated based on the skin stiffness.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vibration generating apparatus for a vehicle including a state analysis device that generates analysis information based on the state information, a vibration signal modeling information generation device that generates vibration signal modeling information for the vibration of the vehicle based on the generated analysis information, and a vibration signal generation device that generates a vibration signal based on the generated vibration signal modeling information and driving information of the vehicle.

Abstract: A soft actuator for a massage device is capable of providing vibration and pressure. The soft actuator includes a soft pressing portion that expands or contracts by a pressure fluid filling in the soft pressing portion, and a soft vibrating portion including an electrode that provides vibration through shape change due to voltage applied to the electrode. The soft actuator may be included as part of a massage device, which may be incorporated into a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A vehicle selects various sound sources and outputs driving sound based on information received from the navigation system. A database stores sound sources classified as first and second emotions. A controller outputs a landmark name based on a route guidance text and outputs a ratio of the first and second emotions corresponding to the landmark name. The controller selects a first sound source from the sound sources classified as the first emotion based on the first emotion ratio, selects a second sound source from the sound sources classified as the second emotion based on the second emotion ratio and determines first and second playback periods based on the ratios of the first and second emotions. The controller outputs a first sound generated based on the first sound source during the first playback period and a second sound generated based on the second sound source during the second playback period.

Abstract: A flexible actuator for curved surfaces and a control method thereof is used for curved surfaces and generates high vibration using a relatively low voltage.

Abstract: A sound masking apparatus and method mask conversation noise in a vehicle. The sound masking apparatus includes a microphone in a vehicle and a processor connected to the microphone. The processor may detect conversation noise using the microphone, may modulate the conversation noise to generate a masking sound source, and may mask the conversation noise by playing the masking sound source.

Abstract: An embodiment sound providing apparatus includes a camera, one or more processors, and a storage device storing a program to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including instructions to obtain a face image of each passenger in a vehicle using the camera, determine a conversation state of each passenger based on the face image of each passenger, determine an emotional state of each passenger based on the face image of each passenger, determine a conversation atmosphere based on the conversation state and the emotional state of each passenger, select a sound source mapped to the conversation atmosphere, and play and output the sound source.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle seat so as to control a seat back and a neck pillow based on a sound. The apparatus includes the vehicle seat installed in a vehicle and including a seat back and a neck pillow, a detector for detecting vehicle information and seat information, and a processor connected to the vehicle seat and the detector, wherein the processor determines a vehicle state and a seat sitting posture based on the vehicle information and the seat information, analyzes a sound being reproduced in the vehicle, determines a haptic pattern and a haptic pressure based on the vehicle state and the seat sitting posture, and the analysis of the sound, and controls the seat back and the neck pillow based on the determined haptic pattern and haptic pressure to provide a haptic effect.

Abstract: A noise masking apparatus and method are disclosed. The noise masking apparatus includes a receiver that receives an impact sound and a controller. The controller generates a seed sound source based on an impact noise when the received impact sound is determined as the impact noise, modulates the seed sound source to generate and reproduce a masking sound, sets a repeating reproduction time of the masking sound and a total reproduction time of the masking sound, and reproduces the masking sound during the repeating reproduction time and the total reproduction time.

Abstract: A virtual sound provision apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a driving information detector configured to detect vehicle driving information for outputting a virtual driving sound, a microphone configured to detect an actual driving sound generated from the electric vehicle, a controller configured to determine a characteristic of a target sound based on an acceleration and deceleration driving pattern of a driver from an accelerator pedal input value and a brake pedal input value of the driver, and generating and outputting a sound control signal for outputting the virtual driving sound having the characteristic of the target sound based on the determined characteristic information of the target sound and characteristic information of the actual driving sound, and a sound device configured to output a virtual engine sound that simulates an engine sound from the electric vehicle at the time of acceleration and deceleration according to the sound control signal.

Abstract: A sound system for a vehicle is configured to implement a soundscape that matches an environment around the vehicle. The sound system includes a noise meter that measures environmental noise generated around the vehicle, a vibration meter that measures vibration generated by the vehicle, and a processor connected with the noise meter and the vibration meter. The processor determines a noise type by analyzing features of the vibration and the environmental noise respectively measured by the vibration meter and the noise meter, selects a sound source matched with the noise type among sound sources previously stored in a database, and plays and outputs the selected sound source.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided and includes a camera that photographs a face of a driver, a sensor that obtains skin information of the driver, a speaker, and a controller. The controller determines a physical condition of the driver based on at least one of a face image of the driver and the skin information of the driver, determines a sound source and a parameter based on the physical condition of the driver, generates a driving sound by reflecting driving information of the vehicle in the sound source and the parameter, and operates the speaker to output the driving sound.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle and method thereof includes an air injector that injects air of a preset target pressure to a driver of the vehicle, an ultrasonic transducer that transmits an ultrasonic wave to the driver and receives an echo of the ultrasonic wave, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a skin stress of the driver based on the target pressure, determine a skin strain of the driver based on the echo, determine a skin stiffness of the driver based on the skin stress and the skin strain, and generate a vehicle sound by use of a volume function generated based on the skin stiffness.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for caring emotion of a driver based on a vehicle sound, may include a detector configured to detect driving information of the vehicle and body information of a user, a non-transitory storage to store instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions. The processor determines an emotional status of the driver by use of at least one of the driving information or the body information, to generate a healing sound by designing a virtual sound based on the driving information and the emotional status of the driver, and to generate and output the healing sound.

Abstract: A vehicle sound service system and a method thereof are provided. The vehicle sound service system includes a service server including a communication device that may be configured to transmit and receive data with a mobile terminal loaded with a camera and a processing device electrically connected with the communication device. The processing device may be configured to receive an image transmitted from the mobile terminal using the communication device, when the mobile terminal captures the image around a vehicle using the camera and transmits the image, to analyze the received image to estimate a driving place, and to select a sound that matches the estimated driving place and transmits the selected sound to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An experience sharing system for sharing an experience with others using VR and a method thereof includes a VR recorder that records a surrounding environment image, a user response image, and a surrounding sound of a first user to generate experience content, a VR player that plays and provides the experience content to a second user, and a data processing device connected to the VR recorder and the VR player over a communication network. The data processing device pre-analyzes the experience content received from the VR recorder to classify a category, adds an image matched with the classified category to the experience content, stores the experience content to which the image is added in a DB, and accesses the experience content from the DB depending on a request of the VR player and transmits the accessed experience content to the VR player.

Abstract: A noise masking apparatus and method are disclosed. The noise masking apparatus includes a receiver that receives an impact sound and a controller. The controller generates a seed sound source based on an impact noise when the received impact sound is determined as the impact noise, modulates the seed sound source to generate and reproduce a masking sound, sets a repeating reproduction time of the masking sound and a total reproduction time of the masking sound, and reproduces the masking sound during the repeating reproduction time and the total reproduction time.

Abstract: A vibration reducing device is attached to a structure and blocks sound transmitted through the structure. The vibration reducing device includes a unit structure having a target frequency band, the unit structure including a plurality of unit cells, each formed of an acoustic meta-material and having a different target frequency, the unit cells being connected through first bridges; and a predetermined number of unit structures being connected through second bridges and attached to the structure, where each of the unit cells comprises: a mass portion of which a size is set according to the target frequency; a base frame formed as a quadrangular frame, the mass portion being eccentrically disposed in the base frame; and a support portion that connects the mass portion and the base frame, the support portion having a size that is set according to the target frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for masking periodic noise, which may be capable of efficiently masking periodic noise by outputting music made by synthesizing a song and a beat sound. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a periodic noise signal, at least one memory configured to store at least one song and at least one beat sound, a speaker, and at least one processor configured to select a first song and a first beat sound from the at least one song and the at least one beat sound, adjust a tempo of the first song, determine a playing period of the first beat sound, and/or control the speaker to output music made by synthesizing the first song with the adjusted tempo and the first beat sound that may be repeated in accordance with the determined playing period.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a warning vibration of a steering wheel includes, a reservoir disposed within the steering wheel and filled with a non-conductive fluid, a connection tube connected to the reservoir and configured to form a hydraulic line of the non-conductive fluid, an actuator disposed within the steering wheel, connected to the connection tube, and configured to vibrate according to inflow and outflow of the non-conductive fluid from the connection tube, a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed on opposite sides of the reservoir, a high voltage power supplier configured to supply a high voltage to be applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a vibration generation controller configured to selectively apply an output voltage of the high voltage power supplier to the positive electrode and the negative electrode.