Perception-Based Engineering: Integrating Sound Perception into Engineering Design

Integration of sound perception into engineering design requires an understanding and models of noise generation, propagation, sound perception and sound evaluation. Such acoustical modeling needs to be complemented by models of non-acoustic aspects of the design, and the parts of the multidisciplinary design and product realization team should collaborate throughout the process to find creative ways to satisfy the various needs of the user of the product. The models should not totally replace prototyping and customer evaluations, but they can be used to reduce the design space that needs to be explored. Customer and user evaluations throughout the design, prototyping and product realization stages can be used to refine existing models, adjust design directions, and also provide valuable information to the designers of future products. Aspects of the development of human response models, and integration of those models into product sound design process, are described.