Columbia develops VRU headphone safety system

The Data Science Institute (DSI) at New York’s Columbia University is designing an intelligent headphone system that uses miniature microphones and intelligent signal processing to detect sounds of approaching vehicles.
By Ben Spencer February 11, 2020 Read time: 1 min
intelligent headphone system (Source: Columbia University's Data Science Institute)

The institute says the system will be able to send an audio alert to the pedestrian’s headphones if a hazard appears near. 

The headset will also include a low-power data pipeline to process sounds near the pedestrian. This pipeline will also contain a custom-integrated circuit that extracts relevant features from the sounds while using little battery power, the institute adds.  

Machine learning models on the user’s smartphone will classify acoustic cues from city streets and nearby vehicles to warm users of danger. 

The prototype was awarded a £1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation and is being tested on streets close to Columbia. 

DSI’s Fred Jiang says the project will aim to develop a prototype of the smart headphone system and then transfer the technology to a commercial company. 

“We hope that, once refined, the technology will be commercialised and mass produced in a way that will help cities reduce pedestrian fatalities,” Jiang adds. 

Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Euromed countries warm to Galileo’s services
    June 6, 2014
    The EU is helping countries in North Africa and the Middle East utilise Galileo’s services. With its Galileo constellation rapidly taking shape, the European Union has opened lines of communication with countries in North Africa and the Middle East with a view to assisting their governments and businesses to utilise the satellite services that extend across the Mediterranean. The services available to countries are provided through the European Global Navigational Satellite System (E-GNSS), which includes a
    Read More
  • Qualcomm: V2X enhances safety, adding cloud connectivity informs services
    September 29, 2023
    Many of the fatalities that occur on roadways are preventable. The application of technology could eliminate or mitigate the severity of up to 80% of non-impaired crashes. Jim Misener Senior Director and V2X Ecosystem Lead of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. explains how
    Read More
  • Transport and technology innovation from South Australia
    September 7, 2016
    The Adelaide-headquartered Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has partnered with Sydac and Sage Automation to showcase South Australian transport and technology innovation at the ITS World Congress Melbourne. Visitors to the stand (2213) will be able to try rail and bus training simulators, as well as check out Addinsight, a freeway and arterial road incident detection and congestion management system.
    Read More
  • Indra technology to manage Medellín’s traffic and public transportation
    August 15, 2012
    Spain-headquartered Indra has become the technological leader for Medellín's traffic and transportation systems after being awarded two contracts valued at just over US$11 million. The first contract, awarded by the Medellín Subway, will allow the city to have an intermodal public transportation system that is unique in Colombia and will facilitate the management and the combined use of the subway and buses.
    Read More

Highlighted Content