GrayUR Undergraduate Research for Credit - Nonverbal Driver Communications
Non-Verbal Driver Communication System
Project Overview
The goal of Courtesy Horn is to develop an alternative car horn system that increases the abilities of drivers to communicate with each other in a non-verbal manner. Car horns are currently loud, abrasive, and do not carry a significant amount of information. A courtesy horn will allow for more specific communication between drivers through variations in tone and volume. The goals of this project are to develop such a system while gauging the response of potential stakeholders to better determine what information is most important to communicate, and what tones best convey this information.
Objectives
- Conduct and Analyze Human Factors Research
- Complete Beta System Design
- Prepare for Spring 2023 Testing
Major Tasks
The major tasks of the project are outlined below. These are nominal and are likely to change somewhat throughout the course of the year. These are meant to illustrate the general nature of the work that the position entails.
- Get IRB approval (APPROVED)
- Recruit study participants
- Finalize alpha system build/validate
- Conduct human factors testing
- Analyze human factors test data
- Refine sound palette
- Beta system design
- Beta system build and validate
- Manage and report
General Responsibilities of the Group
Students participating in the GrayUR undergraduate research group will register for an ENGE 2994 or ENGE 4994 undergraduate research course. Typically, students enroll for a 1 credit-hour course load. Under certain circumstances, we can look at extending this up to as many as 3 credits per semester and can sometimes explore technical elective credit within your major. Though not required, the expectation is that you will continue on with the team for two semesters, though we will examine the relationship at the end of the fall semester.
In addition to the major technical tasks listed above, all members of the GrayUR undergraduate research team should expect
- To devote ~3 hours/week to research for each credit hour
- To attend a biweekly team meeting with Dr. Gray
- To attend a monthly all-hands meeting with Dr. Gray
- To participate in periodic reporting (symposia, research poster sessions, etc.)
Major Deliverables
All student teams will have the following deliverables
- One progress presentation to the entire GrayUR group each semester
- Final project reporting
- Final report
- Final slides
- Final personal reflection
Open Positions
Specific Role(s)
- Electronics hardware designer
- Human factors test coordinator
- Sound palette designer
- Data analyzer
- Software designer
Preferred Majors
Majors: ME, EE, CpE, CS, Mgt, Psyc, STS, Sociology
Minor: HCI
Preferred Academic Years
Looking for first-year/Sophomore students
Preferred Skills and Interests
- Electronics
- Automobiles
- human-computer interaction
- ergonomics
- social science
- communication
- human factors related data analyses
How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed by Dr. Gray and by continuing researchers on the team. After a review of the application, our team will contact candidates to schedule an interview (likely to be conducted via zoom). Review for the positions will begin on Bastille Day, 2022, and will continue until all positions are filled. Please send an email to Dr. David Gray (dagray3@vt.edu) with the following deliverables;
- A brief (~1 page) essay or cover letter explaining which of the projects you are interested in, and why you think you might be a good fit for that project (or those projects). If you are applying for multiple projects, extend your essay a little and describe your interest and qualifications for each position. Be sure to let us know your major and where you are in your academic career (sophomore, junior, etc.)
- A resume outlining your work experience and education
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
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